Cedar Waxwing

Sleek silky plumage with a mix of soft browns, grays, and yellow. Features a prominent crest, a black mask bordered in white, yellow-tipped tail, and often bright red waxy tips on the secondary wing feathers.

Sleek brown body, prominent crest, black face mask, yellow tail tip, and sometimes red wax-like droplets on the wings.

Length: 5.9-7.1 inches (15-18 cm), Wingspan: 8.7-11.8 inches (22-30 cm), Weight: 1.0-1.1 oz (30-32 g)

A high-pitched, reedy, somewhat buzzing hiss or whistle, often given in flight.

Heavily frugivorous (eats berries and small fruits); also consumes insects during the summer months.

Open woodlands, riparian areas, orchards, suburban gardens, and forest edges where fruit-bearing trees and shrubs are abundant.

Nomadic and migratory; movements are heavily dependent on the availability of fruit crops rather than strict seasonal schedules.

Builds a bulky cup nest in trees, usually 6 to 50 feet above the ground. Lays 3 to 6 bluish-gray eggs with dark spots. Breeds relatively late in the summer.

Bohemian Waxwing, which is larger, grays overall, has chestnut under-tail coverts, and yellow and white markings on the wings.

Acts as a primary seed disperser for various fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, helping to maintain forest and edge habitats.

Least Concern, with stable or increasing populations.

Look and listen for high-pitched, thin trilling calls in fruit trees, especially berry-heavy bushes during autumn and winter.

They can become intoxicated or even die from consuming overripe, fermented berries that have begun to alcoholize.