iPedia Free Information Center

Information about Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Bombycillidae
Genus:Bombycilla
Species:B. cedrorum
Binomial name
Bombycilla cedrorum
Vieillot, 1808



The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the family Bombycillidae or waxwing family of passerine birds. It breeds in open wooded areas in North America, principally southern Canada and the northern United States.

Description

It is 16.5 cm in length and weighs 32 g. It is smaller and browner than its close relative, the Bohemian Waxwing, which breeds further north and west. The tail is tipped with yellow or orange depending on diet. Birds that have fed on berries of introduced Eurasian honeysuckles while growing tail feathers will have darker orange-tipped tail-feathers. Adults have a pale yellow belly. Immature birds are streaked on the throat and flanks, and often do not have the black mask of the adults.

The flight of waxwings is strong and direct, and the movement of the flock in flight resembles that of a flock of small pale European Starlings.

Vocalizations

The calls of these birds include very high-pitched whistles and buzzy trills often represented as see or sree.

Seasonal movements

Outside the breedings season, Cedar Waxwings often feed in large flocks numbering hundreds of birds. This species is irruptive, with erratic winter movements, though most of the population migrates further south into the United States and beyond, sometimes reaching as far as northern South America. They will move in huge numbers if berry supplies are low. Rare vagrants have reached western Europe, and there are two recorded occurrences of Cedar Waxwing sightings in Great Britain. Individual Bohemian Waxwings will occasionally join large winter flocks of Cedar Waxwings.

Birds in winter can be very confiding and will come into gardens for berry bushes and trees and to splash and drink from fountains or bird baths.

Enlarge picture
Migratory Cedar Waxwing spotted in Rockwall, TX.

Diet

The Cedar Waxwing eats berries and sugary fruit year-round, with insects becoming an important part of the diet in the breeding season. Its fondness for the small cones of the Eastern Redcedar (a kind of juniper) gave this bird its common name.

When the end of a twig holds a supply of berries that only one bird at a time can reach, members of a flock may line up along the twig and pass berries beak to beak down the line so that each bird gets a chance to eat.

Habitat

Preferred habitat consists of trees at the edge of wooded areas, or "open" forests, especially those that provide access to berry sources as well as water. Waxwings are attracted to the sound of running water, and love to bathe and drink from shallow creeks. In urban or suburban environments, waxwings often favor parkland with well-spaced trees, golf courses, cemeteries, or other landscaping with well-spaced trees, bushes that provide berries, and a water source, including fountains or birdbaths, is always a big plus.

Enlarge picture
Cedar Waxwing perched in the branches of a Weeping Holly tree.

Nesting

The nest is a loose open cup built with grass and twigs, lined with softer materials and supported by a tree branch averaging 2 to 6 meters above ground but, at times, considerably higher. The outer diameter of the nest is approximately 12cm to 16cm.

During courtship, the pair may pass a flower petal or insect back and forth repeatedly. Usually 4 or 5 eggs are laid and the female incubates them for 12 to 16 days. The eggs are oval shaped with a smooth surface and very little, if any, gloss. The egg shells are of various shades of light or bluish grey with irregular, dark brown spots or greyish-brown splotches. Both parents build the nest and feed the young. Typically, there are two broods during the mating season. Young leave the nest about 14 to 18 days after hatching.

Cedar Waxwings are also known as the Southern Waxwing, Canada Robin, Cedar Bird, Cherry Bird, or Recellet.

Cedar Waxwings in literature and law

According to experts on the writing of Vladimir Nabokov, this species almost certainly inspired the waxwing mentioned prominently in his novel Pale Fire.

Waxwings are protected by law in the US and may not be kept in captivity.

Links

References

  • Witmer, Mark C., Mountjoy, D. James, and Elliot, Lang. "Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla Cedrorum)." in The Birds of North America, Number 309 (Alan Poole and Frank Gill, editors.) The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. 1997.
  • Tyler, W.M. "Bombycilla Cedrorum: Cedar Waxwing" in Life Histories of North American Wagtails, Shrikes, Vireos and Their Allies. (Arthur Cleveland Bent, editor.) New York: Dover Publications: 1965 (Unedited reprint of: U.S. Government Printing Office: Smithsonian Institution United States National Museaum, Bulletin 197: 1950). pp.79-102
  • Bent, Arthur Cleveland, editor. "Bombycilla Garrulus: Bohemian Waxwing" in Life Histories of North American Wagtails, Shrikes, Vireos and Their Allies. New York: Dover Publications: 1965 (Unedited reprint of: U.S. Government Printing Office: Smithsonian Institution United States National Museaum, Bulletin 197: 1950). pp.62-79.
  • Stokes, Donald & Lillian. Guide to Bird Behavior, Volume 2. New York: Little, Brown &Company. 1983. (Cedar Waxwing, pp. 177-188)
  • Sibley, David Allen. National Audubon Society: The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 2000. (Waxwings: pp. 423.)
  • Sibley, David, et. al, editors. National Audubon Society: The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 2001. (Waxwings: pp. 485-487; waxwing article by Mark Witmer.)
  • Martin, Alfred G. Hand-Taming Wild Birds at the Feeder. Brattleboro, VT: Alan C. Hood & Company. 1963. (Waxwings: pp 113-117)
  • Leister, Mary. "Cedar Waxwings: Unpredictable Birds." BirdWatcher's Digest. November/December 1991 (Vol 14, No. 2). pp. 50-55.
  • Iliff, Marshall J. "Identify Yourself: Waxwings -- Cedar versus Bohemian." BirdWatcher's Digest. October 2001 (Vol 24, No. 1). pp. 38-42.
  • BirdLife International (2004). Bombycilla cedrorum. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  • Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4

Further reading

Book

  • Witmer, M. C., D. J. Mountjoy, and L. Elliot. 1997. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). In The Birds of North America, No. 309 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.

Thesis

  • Best LS. Ph.D. (1981). THE EFFECT OF SPECIFIC FRUIT AND PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ON SEED DISPERSAL. University of Washington, United States -- Washington.
  • Gorchov DL. Ph.D. (1987). PROXIMATE AND ULTIMATE CAUSES OF FRUIT RIPENING ASYNCHRONY IN VERTEBRATE-DISPERSED PLANTS IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN. University of Michigan, United States -- Michigan.
  • Holthuijzen AMA. Ph.D. (1983). DISPERSAL ECOLOGY OF EASTERN RED CEDAR JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA L. (VIRGINIA). Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, United States -- Virginia.
  • Howell JC. Ph.D. (1973). COMMUNICATIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE CEDAR WAXWING (BOMBYCILLA CEDRORUM) AND THE BOHEMIAN WAXWING (BOMBYCILLA GARRULUS). University of Michigan, United States -- Michigan.
  • Hudon J. Ph.D. (1989). Keto-carotenoid usage and evolutionary dynamics in birds. The University of Connecticut, United States -- Connecticut.
  • Martinez del Rio C. Ph.D. (1990). Sugar preferences in birds: Physiological and ecological correlates. University of Florida, United States -- Florida.
  • Mountjoy DJ. M.Sc. (1987). Behavioural ecology of the cedar waxwing during the breeding season. Queen's University at Kingston (Canada), Canada.
  • Neudorf DL. M.Sc. (1991). Nest defense in four host species of the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). The University of Manitoba (Canada), Canada.
  • Putnam LS. Ph.D. (1948). THE BREEDING BEHAVIOR OF THE CEDAR WAXWING (BOMBYCILLA CEDRORUM). The Ohio State University, United States -- Ohio.
  • Richardson RK. M.S. (1986). GROWTH PATTERN, NEST SUCCESS, AND PARENTAL INVESTMENT IN AN ISLAND POPULATION OF CEDAR WAXWINGS (BOMBYCILLA CEDRORUM) (MICHIGAN). Central Michigan University, United States -- Michigan.
  • Witmer MC. Ph.D. (1994). Contrasting digestive strategies of frugivorous birds. Cornell University, United States -- New York.

Articles

  • Brewer R & Drewiske DF. (1980). Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla-Cedrorum Catching Snowflakes. Jack Pine Warbler. vol 58, no 3. p. 121-122.
  • Browning MR & Banks RC. (1996). Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot, (1808) and Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, (1809) (Aves, Passeriformes): Proposed conservation of the specific names. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. vol 53, no 3. p. 187-200.
  • Brush AH. (1990). A POSSIBLE SOURCE FOR THE RHODOXANTHIN IN SOME CEDAR WAXWING TAILS - COMMENT. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 61, no 3. p. 355-355.
  • Buchholz R & Levey DJ. (1990). The Evolutionary Triad of Microbes Fruits and Seed Dispersers an Experiment in Fruit Choice by Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Oikos. vol 59, no 2. p. 200-204.
  • Burtt EHJ, Sustare BD & Hailman JP. (1976). Cedar Waxwing Feeding from Spider Web. Wilson Bulletin. vol 88, no 1. p. 157-158.
  • Dowler RC & Swanson GA. (1982). High Mortality of Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla-Cedrorum Associated with Highway Plantings. Wilson Bulletin. vol 94, no 4. p. 602-603.
  • Fisk EJ. (1970). Common Grackle Kills Cedar Waxwing in Air. Wilson Bulletin. vol 82, no 4.
  • Grubbe O. (1970). Something Concerning the Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Gefiederte Welt. vol 94, no 10. p. 184-187.
  • Hedrick LD & Woody AD. (1983). Northern Mockingbird Mimus-Polyglottos Kills Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Wilson Bulletin. vol 95, no 1. p. 157-158.
  • Holthuijzen AMA & Adkisson CS. (1984). Passage Rate Energetics and Utilization Efficiency of the Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Wilson Bulletin. vol 96, no 4. p. 680-684.
  • Hudon J & Brush AH. (1989). Probable Dietary Basis of a Color Variant of the Cedar Waxwing. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 60, no 3. p. 361-368.
  • International Commission On Zoological N. (1998). Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot, (1808) and Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, (1809) (Aves, Passeriformes): Specific names conserved. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. vol 55, no 1. p. 62-63.
  • King DI. (1996). Carnivory observed in the Cedar waxwing. Wilson Bulletin. vol 108, no 2. p. 381-382.
  • Leck CF & Cantor FL. (1979). Seasonality Clutch Size and Hatching Success in the Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Auk. vol 96, no 1. p. 196-198.
  • Levey DJ & Duke GE. (1992). How do frugivores process fruit? Gastrointestinal transit and glucose absorption in cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum). Auk. vol 109, no 4. p. 722-730.
  • Loncke DJ. (1973). Cedar Waxwing Courts White-Throated Sparrow. Auk. vol 90, no 3. p. 674-675.
  • McKay CR. (2000). Cedar Waxwing in Shetland: New to the Western Palearctic. British Birds. vol 93, no 12. p. 580-587.
  • Mountjoy DJ & Robertson RJ. (1988). Nest-Construction Tactics in the Cedar Waxwing. Wilson Bulletin. vol 100, no 1. p. 128-130.
  • Mountjoy DJ & Robertson RJ. (1988). Why Are Waxwings Waxy Delayed Plumage Maturation in the Cedar Waxwing. Auk. vol 105, no 1. p. 61-69.
  • Mulvihill RS, Parkes KC, Leberman RC & Wood DS. (1992). Evidence Supporting a Dietary Basis for Orange-Tipped Rectrices in the Cedar Waxwing. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 63, no 2. p. 212-216.
  • Murphy MT, Cummings CL & Palmer MS. (1997). Comparative analysis of habitat selection, nest site and nest success by cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) and eastern kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus). American Midland Naturalist. vol 138, no 2. p. 344-356.
  • Pittaway R. (1991). Orange-Banded Variant of the Cedar Waxwing. Ontario Birds. vol 9, no 1. p. 7-8.
  • Rodgers SPJ & Post W. (1989). Cedar Waxwing Breeding on the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina USA. Chat. vol 53, no 4.
  • Rothstein SI. (1971). High Nest Density and Nonrandom Nest Placement in the Cedar Waxwing. Condor. vol 73, no 4. p. 483-485.
  • Rothstein SI. (1972). Egg Shell Thickness and Its Variation in the Cedar Waxwing. Wilson Bulletin. vol 84, no 4. p. 469-474.
  • Rothstein SI. (1973). Variation in the Incidence of Hatching Failure in the Cedar Waxwing and Other Species. Condor. vol 75, no 2. p. 164-169.
  • Rothstein SI. (1976). Cowbird Parasitism of the Cedar Waxwing and Its Evolutionary Implications. Auk. vol 93, no 3. p. 498-509.
  • Studier EH, Szuch EJ, Tompkins TM & Cope VW. (1988). Nutritional Budgets in Free Flying Birds Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla-Cedrorum Feeding on Washington Hawthorn Fruit Crataegus-Phaenopyrum. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology A. vol 89, no 3. p. 471-474.
  • Witmer MC. (2001). Nutritional interactions and fruit removal: Cedar Waxwing consumption of Viburnum opulus fruits in spring. Ecology. vol 82, no 11. p. 3120-3130.
  • Wolfenbarger DO. (1973). Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla-Cedrorum Feeds on Avocado Flowers. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society. vol 85, no 1973. p. 341-343.
conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation status of a species: not simply the number remaining, but the
..... Click the link for more information.
Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, nor Near Threatened, nor (prior to 2001) Conservation Dependent.
..... Click the link for more information.
Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. Scientific classification also can be called scientific taxonomy, but should be distinguished from folk taxonomy, which lacks scientific basis.
..... Click the link for more information.
Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled until (UTC) due to vandalism.
If you are prevented from editing this page, and you wish to make a change, please discuss changes on the talk page, request unprotection, log in, or
..... Click the link for more information.
Chordata
Bateson, 1885

Typical Classes

See below

Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates.
..... Click the link for more information.
Aves
Linnaeus, 1758

Orders

About two dozen - see section below

Birds (class Aves) are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate animals.
..... Click the link for more information.
Passeriformes
Linnaeus, 1758

Suborders
  • Acanthisitti
  • Tyranni
  • Passeri


A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. More than half of all species of bird are passerines.
..... Click the link for more information.
Bombycillidae

Genus: Bombycilla
Vieillot, 1808

Species
  • B. garrulus
  • B. japonica
  • B. cedrorum


For the band featuring Rocky Votolato, see Waxwing (band).
..... Click the link for more information.
Bombycillidae

Genus: Bombycilla
Vieillot, 1808

Species
  • B. garrulus
  • B. japonica
  • B. cedrorum


For the band featuring Rocky Votolato, see Waxwing (band).
..... Click the link for more information.
binomial nomenclature is the formal system of naming species. The system is also called binominal nomenclature (particularly in zoological circles), binary nomenclature (particularly in botanical circles), or the binomial classification system.
..... Click the link for more information.
Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot (May 10, 1748 - 1831) was a French ornithologist.

Vieillot described a large number of birds for the first time, especially those he encountered during the time he spent in the West Indies and North America, and 26 genera established by him are
..... Click the link for more information.
18th century - 19th century - 20th century
1770s  1780s  1790s  - 1800s -  1810s  1820s  1830s
1805 1806 1807 - 1808 - 1809 1810 1811

:
Subjects:     Archaeology - Architecture -
..... Click the link for more information.
Bombycillidae

Genus: Bombycilla
Vieillot, 1808

Species
  • B. garrulus
  • B. japonica
  • B. cedrorum


For the band featuring Rocky Votolato, see Waxwing (band).
..... Click the link for more information.
Passeriformes
Linnaeus, 1758

Suborders
  • Acanthisitti
  • Tyranni
  • Passeri


A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. More than half of all species of bird are passerines.
..... Click the link for more information.


North America is a continent [1] in the Earth's northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west
..... Click the link for more information.
This page is currently protected from editing until disputes have been resolved.
Protection is not an endorsement of the current [ version] ([ protection log]).
..... Click the link for more information.
Northern United States is a large geographic region of the United States of America. Although the region includes a considerable portion of what is often called the American Midwest, most Americans refer to the region as simply "The North".
..... Click the link for more information.
B. garrulus

Binomial name
Bombycilla garrulus
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is a member of the waxwing family of passerines.
..... Click the link for more information.
Eurasia is an immense landmass covering about 53,990,000 km² (or about 10.6%) of the Earth's surface. Often reckoned as a single continent, Eurasia comprises the traditional continents of Europe and Asia, concepts which date back to classical antiquity and the borders for which are
..... Click the link for more information.
Lonicera
L.

Species
See text - Selected Species

Honeysuckles (genus Lonicera; syn. Caprifolium Mill.) are arching shrubs or twining vines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere.
..... Click the link for more information.
S. vulgaris

Binomial name
Sturnus vulgaris
Linnaeus, 1758

Native: yellow, breeding summer visitor; dark green, resident breeding; blue, wintering.

..... Click the link for more information.
Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of birds. Migrations include movements of varied distances made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather.
..... Click the link for more information.
Motto
"In God We Trust"   (since 1956)
"E Pluribus Unum"   ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional)
Anthem
..... Click the link for more information.


South America is a continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie
..... Click the link for more information.
Western Europe is mainly a socio-political concept forged during the Cold War, which largely defined its borders. Its boundaries were effectively forged during the final stages of World War II and came to encompass all European countries which did not come under Soviet control and
..... Click the link for more information.
This page is protected from moves until disputes have been resolved on the .
The reason for its protection is listed on the protection policy page. The page may still be edited but cannot be moved until unprotected.
..... Click the link for more information.
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form is known as a residential garden.
..... Click the link for more information.
berry, in common parlance refers generically to any small fruit with multiple seeds. Aggregate fruits such as the blackberry, the raspberry, and the boysenberry are also berries in this sense, but not the botanical.
..... Click the link for more information.
fruit has different meanings depending on context. In botany, a fruit is the ripened ovary—together with seeds—of a flowering plant. In many species, the fruit incorporates the ripened ovary and surrounding tissues.
..... Click the link for more information.
Insecta
Linnaeus, 1758

Orders
Subclass Apterygota
* Archaeognatha (bristletails)
* Thysanura (silverfish)
Subclass Pterygota
* Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic)

..... Click the link for more information.


This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.
Herod_Archelaus


page counter