The Cedar Waxwing

Elegant and entertaining, waxwings will perch on a branch and pass berries back and forth, head crest held high.

Description: Brown and gray medium-size songbird with yellow on belly, black facial mask and head crest; bright red waxy ‘droplets’ on the wing feathers.

When: They arrive in Louisiana as early as September but usually large numbers don’t occur until late November. They head to Canada in late May or early June.

Where: Everywhere from mid-United States down through Central America into Panama.

Cedar Waxwing is such an interesting name. The waxwing derives its name from the bright red waxy ‘droplets’ appearing on the tip of the wing feather. Ornithologists aren’t sure what purpose these ‘droplets’ serve but suspect mate attraction plays a part. Waxwings’ favorite food is berries, especially those from the Eastern Red Cedar, hence the first part of their name.

Cedar Waxwings have brilliant yellow tail tips. In the northern United States, some are found to have orange tail tips instead.  Scientists have found this occurs when the waxwing eats fruit (and the red pigment) from an introduced species of honeysuckle while it is growing a tail feather.

Waxwings are often seen in the middle of town or in subdivisions with the increased use of berry trees in landscaping. They are found in open woodlands, swamp edges, parks, grasslands, gardens and forest edges near fruiting trees.  It is unusual to see just one waxwing, and usually they are heard before seen. The call is a high, thin whistle.

Flocks of waxwings can number a few or be in the hundreds or even thousands. Waxwings form tight flocks and can suddenly turn in unison when changing directions. Highly social, they forage (or eat) in flocks, appearing to swarm a fruiting tree when landing. Waxwings can decimate the fruit on a tree, plucking the berry whole. They will also eat flowers, drink oozing sap and even snap up a caterpillar or beetle in summer.

The species is highly irruptive which means migration is somewhat irregular, determined by the shortage of food sources in their northern territory. Sometimes Cedar Waxwings show up earlier in the south or maybe linger longer than usual depending on the bounty of the berry crop here. Where waxwings show up is so variable that the other member in the waxwing family is named the Bohemian Waxwing. Bohemians are typically found in Alaska and Canada escaping into the northern United States and further south, but very rarely into Louisiana.

Cedar Waxwings have a reputation for getting intoxicated. With a diet so focused on fruit they can consume overripe berries that have started to ferment and produce alcohol. This might explain why waxwings are found on the ground appearing to be dead. I know folks who have picked up waxwings to put into the safety of a box, only to have them fly off later, very much alive. Of course, there are those waxwings which are not fortunate enough to ever fly off again.

Dr. George Lowry, Jr., former director of the LSU Museum of Natural Sciences, theorized in his book Louisiana Birds that these ‘stupefied’ birds pack too many berries or fruit into their throat. He goes on to state that this overeating exerts pressure on the blood vessels and carotid artery thereby cutting off blood flow to the brain. With blood flow blocked off a temporary blackout occurs in the waxwing until some of the food is digested and moved out of the esophagus. Hmmm, sounds like CSI for birds.

Waxwings nest throughout Canada. Nest building is done mainly by the female and can take five to six days, requiring more than 2,500 individual trips to the nest. Occasionally, to save time the female waxwing will take nest materials from other birds’ nests, including those of eastern kingbirds, yellow-throated vireos, orioles, robins, and yellow warblers.

Populations of Cedar Waxwings are increasing because of the growing use of berry trees in landscaping and the reversion of fields to forests. The oldest waxwing found was estimated to be eight years and two months old. Waxwings are susceptible to being hit by cars or window collisions as they feed on fruit trees near roads or buildings.

Waxwings are beautiful birds and it is fun to watch the aerial maneuvers of the flock. To attract them to your yard, plant serviceberry, mulberry, dogwood, cedar, juniper and/or tulip poplar trees. You may want to plant the trees far away from any driveway or patio. Waxwings aren’t like most birds that regurgitate the seed after eating fruit. The seed passes right through them.

Contributor Harriett Pooler has been an avid bird watcher for the past seventeen years, and is a member of the LA Ornithological Society. Contact her at Harriett.pooler@gmail.com.