CEDAR WAXWINGS
(Bombycilla cedrorum)

Cedar Waxwings, and their close relative, the Bohemian Waxwing, are members of the Bobycillidea family of birds and are medium sized birds which are mostly brown and are named for the wax-like wing tips.

These birds are native to North and Central America as well as the northern part of South America.

Cedar Waxwing on a tree branch in the sunshine

A Beautiful Cedar Waxwing

ID 109911155 © creativecommonsstockphotos | Dreamstime.com

Their diet consists of fruit, insects and the cones of cedar trees ... I have observed these birds eating the fruit of the Mountain Ash (Rowan) tree in the autumn when the berries are ripe.

They also love fruit, so if you want to attract them to your backyard, plant such plants as cedar, dogwood, hawthorn, winterberry or serviceberry, and you may see the Cedar Waxwings more often.

This species often comes backyards if food is offered, but they also eat caterpillars, grubs, beetles and ants. 

They are medium sized birds and are smaller and have more brown on their plumage than their relatives, the Bohemian Waxwings.

Cedar Waxwing on tree branch, by Marinus Pater

Cedar Waxwing

In these birds, the males and females are difficult to distinguish as they both look alike.

They mate at the end of spring and can often raise two clutches of eggs each summer and their nest is often in the branches of a tree and is a collection of grass and twigs, lined with softer material.

Up to five or six light or blue-grey eggs are typically laid and incubated for around 11 to 13 days, by the female.

In the Waxwing family, both parents build the nest and feed the youngsters.  Building a nest can take five or six days to complete and the cheeky Waxwings have been known to steal nest materials from the nests of other birds.

By the age of 14 or 16 days, the little Waxwings will have left the nest, and if there is time, the parents will lay a second clutch of eggs and raise more youngsters.

They are sociable birds and will travel in flocks, so if you see them it is rare to see just one or two individuals

Flock of Cedar Waxwings in tree, by Marinus Pater

A Flock of Cedar Waxwings

Most often, the Cedar Waxwings forage and feed in flocks, descending on fruit laden trees in large groups, and devouring the sweet berries they feast upon, so it is unusual just to see one individual, alone.


Cedar Waxwings Info ...

Cedar Waxwings - All About Birds


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What Other Visitors Have Said

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Unbelievable Cedar Waxwings 
My father and I were in his garage in Tillsonburg, Ontario, around 1:00 pm Sunday May 1st 2022 when we first caught sight of these beautiful birds. …

Cedar Waxwings 
Several times this year we had up to 125 Cedar Waxwings land in our garden. Thank you for your amazing pictures, Marinus, they are lovely! Many …

First time sighting of Cedar Waxwing 
I have just had the pleasure of seeing two Cedar Waxwings in my backyard. They seem to love my Smoke tree, they pull and pull on the tufts and then …

Cedar Waxwings Not rated yet
Here are some pictures of Cedar Waxwings taken around Georgetown. Thank you for sending us your charming pictures! I will also post this on our …

Very welcome friends Not rated yet
Here are some Cedar Waxwings on one of their regular visits to our garden,in Georgetown and also a Downy Woodpecker having his dinner, and a pair of Cedar …

Cedar Waxwings Not rated yet
I live in Collingwood on Georgian Bay and this morning November 7th I spotted a flock of birds in a tree opposite my house. On closer inspection realized …

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