Larger northern cousin to cedar waxwing. Gray-brown body, yellow tail tip, prominent crest, white wing markings.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The Bohemian waxwing is a starling-sized passerine bird that breeds in the northern forests of the Palearctic and North America. It has mainly buff-grey plumage, black face markings and a pointed crest. Its wings are patterned with white and bright yellow, and some of the wing feathers have red tips, the resemblance of which to sealing wax gives these birds their common name. The two or three subspecies show only minor differences in appearance. Females are similar to males, although young birds are less well-marked and have few or no waxy wingtips. Although the Bohemian waxwing's range overlaps those of the cedar and Japanese waxwings, it is easily distinguished from them by size and plumage differences.
Source: Wikipedia — Bohemian waxwing Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Sleek gray waxwing with a crest, a black mask, rich rusty undertail coverts, and bold white-and-yellow wing markings; larger and grayer than Cedar Waxwing.
Similar species. Cedar Waxwing is browner with a yellow-washed belly and white (not rusty) undertail coverts; the Bohemian is grayer, larger, with rufous vent and bolder wing spots.
Voice. A lower, harsher, buzzy trill 'zhreee', rougher than the high thin call of the Cedar Waxwing.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Fruits and berries (primary); insects during nesting.
Behavior. A nomadic northern waxwing that wanders in large flocks in winter, descending on fruit trees and stripping them of berries; irruptions reach far south in some years.
§ Range
Boreal Canada in summer; winters across northern US
§ Habitat
Coniferous and mixed forests
§ Threats
Boreal forest loss, climate change.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the bohemian waxwing is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant native berry-producing trees and shrubs.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Bohemian waxwing
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Bombycilla garrulus
- IUCN Red List — search for Bombycilla garrulus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Bombycilla garrulus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
