# Bohemian Waxwing (*Bombycilla garrulus*) The Bohemian Waxwing is a beautiful bird with a soft, colorful coat and a fancy crest on its head. They love to eat berries and can often be seen flying in flocks, making them a delightful sight in the trees. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Bohemian Waxwing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bohemian_waxwing_%28Bombycilla_garrulus%29%252C_Uitkerke%252C_Belgium_%2816366736689%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bohemian_waxwing_%28Bombycilla_garrulus%29%252C_Uitkerke%252C_Belgium_%2816366736689%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Bohemian Waxwing is a sleek, medium-sized bird with soft grey-brown plumage, a prominent pointed crest, and a distinctive black mask through its eyes. It has bright yellow-tipped tail feathers and waxy red tips on its secondary wing feathers, making it visually unique. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Bombycillidae - **Genus:** Bombycilla ## Interesting facts - Bohemian Waxwings don't sing songs; instead, they communicate with high-pitched trilling calls! - Their name 'Bohemian' refers to their wandering, unpredictable migrations across the land. - These birds can get tipsy from eating fermented berries, sometimes even struggling to fly! - Waxwings often pass berries from beak to beak in courtship rituals, like a sweet gift! ## Special abilities - **Fermenting Feaster:** Bohemian Waxwing can eat large quantities of overripe, fermented berries because its large liver helps detoxify the alcohol. - **Nomadic Navigator:** Bohemian Waxwing has an ability for irruptive migration, flying thousands of miles in search of abundant fruit crops. - **Waxwing Warning:** Bohemian Waxwing has unique red, waxy tips on its wings that might signal fitness or age to other waxwings. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-21 cm - **Wingspan:** 32-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.045-0.07 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-7 - **Incubation:** 13-15 days - **Migration Distance:** 3000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds primarily feast on berries and fruit, especially in cold months, supplementing with insects. - **Primary Foods:** Berries, Fruit, Insects (flies, mosquitoes), Tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Rowan tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rowan-tree) (*Sorbus aucuparia*) — Eats its energy-rich berries, especially during winter. - **Hunts:** Northern Shrike (*Lanius borealis*) — This predatory bird is known to ambush and capture smaller birds. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Goshawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-goshawk) (*Accipiter gentilis*) — A swift and powerful raptor that preys on birds in forests. - **Depends on:** [Common Juniper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-juniper) (*Juniperus communis*) — Consumes its juniper cones, aiding in seed dispersal. ## Traits - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bohemian Waxwing? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bohemian Waxwing? 18-21 cm ### What is Bohemian Waxwing's wingspan? 32-35 cm ### How much does Bohemian Waxwing weigh? 0.045-0.07 kg ### How long does Bohemian Waxwing live? 5-8 years ### How fast can Bohemian Waxwing move? 60 km/h ### What does Bohemian Waxwing eat? These birds primarily feast on berries and fruit, especially in cold months, supplementing with insects. ### Where is Bohemian Waxwing usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Rockland Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rockland-residential-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Schlosspark Nymphenburg (München)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nymphenburg-palace-park-munich) — Bayern, DE · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Bohemian Waxwing: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bohemian-waxwing)