Elegant Cedar Waxwing
The quest for fruit has the Cedar Waxwing always on the move
When in nature, there are some birds which have such a special ambience that is hard not to stand up and take notice of. The Cedar Waxwing is one such bird because the beauty and behaviour of this gorgeous creature is something to behold.
The Cedar Waxwing is a very social bird preferring the company of the same species. Very seldom will one see less than fifty together as they like to flock in numbers of over one thousand at times. Rarely if ever will one see a Cedar Waxwing alone, but if they do it’s likely because they are in distress. If that is the case it could be because they have eaten fermented fruit and become drunk on them. If one should come across one in this state, be patient and wait for signs of consciousness; if they do not respond pick them up gently and bring them to the nearest bird sanctuary for attention.
The Cedar Waxwing is a very social bird preferring the company of the same species. Very seldom will one see less than fifty together as they like to flock in numbers of over one thousand at times. Rarely if ever will one see a Cedar Waxwing alone, but if they do it’s likely because they are in distress. If that is the case it could be because they have eaten fermented fruit and become drunk on them. If one should come across one in this state, be patient and wait for signs of consciousness; if they do not respond pick them up gently and bring them to the nearest bird sanctuary for attention.
The Cedar Waxwing is a very social bird
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The Cedar Waxwing may exhibit rare behaviour in the animal kingdom as it is a non-territorial bird often displaying affection towards each another. They have been observed grooming one another on a branch, or wherever they are comfortable, showing obvious signs of compassion, trust, love and empathy. Humanity should pay attention to nature because the proper way to interact on this planet is on display with these lovely birds.
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Water is always a good feature to have to attract birds
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When breeding time comes a pair of Cedar Waxwings will display elegant behaviour during the courtship which is almost akin to a Saturday morning cartoon. The ritual begins with the male passing a berry to the female. The female takes the berry and dances down the branch and back up again passing the berry back to the male. This ceremony goes on for some time until the female accepts the berry and
eats it! It is a very impressive display of love and gratitude by each bird, not to mention entertaining! Nesting time for the Cedar Waxwing usually begins in mid to late summer and can extend into early October. The primary reason is food source, as they must have a continual supply of berries and insects to rear the young hatchlings. Generally these birds nest in the same area due to their social nature. |
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The food source for the Cedar Waxwing is primary fruit with high sugar content. They prefer berries such as; mulberry, winterberry, honeysuckle, dogwood and wild grapes. They will also eat crab apples, and sap from a tree and even add some flowers for their diet. The young require insects for their initial development but are moved to fruit when they can digest them.
Attracting this wonderful bird to the yard is tricky since it prefers park like settings, ravines and open forests in which to thrive. Since most people don’t have the space for these types of locations patience is the key to bringing them in. If one does not attract them, it’s always possible to go for walk in a forest or a beautiful park where they can be observed. |
The breeding ritual of the Cedar Waxwing starts with a berry offering
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To attempt in bringing this bird to the yard, make sure there are trees with tall canopies and cover for the bird to feel safe in. Water features such as bird baths, fountains and ponds are also magnetic to the Cedar Waxwing, and always ensure there are plenty of fruit trees and shrubs on the lawn along with the juniper or cedar trees so they have a constant food source. Keep in mind, as soon as the berries are gone, so is the bird and they leave for greener pastures.
Berries are the name of the game for this bird
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This bird is unique in looks and thus is easily identifiable. The Cedar Waxwing has a crest on their head along with a yellow tail and gorgeous light brown/pale yellow combination on the belly; the wings and back have a mix of grey and brown. A black mask outlined by white trim highlights the bird’s beauty. Both
the male and female have the same colour scheme and each have distinctive red flattened feather shafts which extend beyond the wing, hence the name Cedar Waxwing. |
Handsome and elegant
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Locating a Cedar Waxwing is easier when listening for the sounds the bird makes. It tends to make a high pitched “zeee zeee” tone, and because there are always a number of them together it appears continuously one after the other. If found, approach quietly and enjoy the sights as they forage for food and interact with one another, because once they take off, they do so en masse and leave for a completely different area.
When the Cedar Waxwing migrates they will go to the lower United States and as far as Central and South America. When they leave they do so in large flocks but like the sun shines in the sky, they return every year to the northern hemisphere of North America.
The Cedar Waxwing is a natural wonder of nature, it sets a great example of love and teamwork and is a unique bird mankind should cherish, protect and learn from for years to come.
When the Cedar Waxwing migrates they will go to the lower United States and as far as Central and South America. When they leave they do so in large flocks but like the sun shines in the sky, they return every year to the northern hemisphere of North America.
The Cedar Waxwing is a natural wonder of nature, it sets a great example of love and teamwork and is a unique bird mankind should cherish, protect and learn from for years to come.
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