# Cedar Waxwing (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) Cedar Waxwings are beautiful birds with soft, yellow bellies and stylish crests on their heads. They love to eat berries and often travel in cheerful groups. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 129 - **Habitat:** Forests and gardens - **Also known as:** Waxwing ![Cedar Waxwing](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424601/objects/4550.jpg) ## Appearance The Cedar Waxwing has a sleek, brown and gray body with a pale yellow belly, a prominent crest, and a black bandit mask. Its tail has a bright yellow tip, and its wings feature unique red, waxy droplets. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Bombycillidae - **Genus:** Bombycilla ## Interesting facts - Baby waxwings leave the nest even before they can fly well! - Their distinctive black eye mask is called a supercilium! - They sometimes get tipsy from eating fermented berries! - Waxwings pass berries beak-to-beak down a whole line! ## Special abilities - **Berry-Binging Superpower:** Cedar Waxwings can digest large amounts of fruit quickly because of their special stomach, helping them fuel up on berries. - **Waxy Wing Mystery:** Cedar Waxwings have red, waxy drops on their wing feathers that may help them show off to potential mates. - **Whistling Choir:** Cedar Waxwings can communicate with a high-pitched, whistled call, helping their flock stay together while flying. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 14-17 cm - **Wingspan:** 28-32 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.035 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 11-13 days ## Diet & Feeding These birds mainly eat fruits and berries, but also snack on insects, especially in summer. - **Age differences:** Young birds eat mostly insects for protein, shifting to a fruit-heavy diet as adults. - **Primary Foods:** berries, cherries, mulberries, mayflies, caterpillars - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — A primary predator of adult waxwings. - **Eats:** [Eastern Redcedar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-redcedar) (*Juniperus virginiana*) — Feeds on its berries, giving them their name. - **Eats:** [Black Cherry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-cherry) (*Prunus serotina*) — Consumes ripe fruit from these trees. - **Eats:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — An occasional insect prey item. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [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. - [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. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Cedar Waxwings are friendly birds. Just enjoy watching them from a distance! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cedar 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 Cedar Waxwing? 14-17 cm ### What is Cedar Waxwing's wingspan? 28-32 cm ### How much does Cedar Waxwing weigh? 0.03-0.035 kg ### How long does Cedar Waxwing live? 5-8 years ### How fast can Cedar Waxwing move? 40 km/h ### What does Cedar Waxwing eat? These birds mainly eat fruits and berries, but also snack on insects, especially in summer. ### Where is Cedar Waxwing usually found? Forests and gardens ## Where to spot - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Black Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-creek-park) — New York, US · Park - [Bloedel Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloedel-reserve) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Capitol Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District [View all places to see Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cedar-waxwing) ## 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: [Cedar Waxwing: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing)