Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Bombycillidae
Genus: Bombycilla
Species: B. cedrorum
Binomial name
Bombycilla cedrorum
Vieillot, 1808
Synonyms

Ampelis cedrorum

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the family Bombycillidae or waxwing family of passerine birds. It breeds in open wooded areas in North America, principally southern Canada and the northern United States.

Contents

Description

Cedar waxwings are approximately 6–7 in (15–18 cm) long and weigh roughly 30 grams. They are smaller and more brown than their close relative, the Bohemian Waxwing (which breeds farther to the north and west).

These birds' most prominent feature is a small cluster of bright red feathers on the wings, a feature they share with the Bohemian Waxwing (but not the Japanese Waxwing). The tail is typically yellow or orange depending on diet. Birds that have fed on berries of introduced Eurasian honeysuckles while growing tail feathers will have darker orange-tipped tail-feathers. Adults have a pale yellow belly. Immature birds are streaked on the throat and flanks, and often do not have the black mask of the adults.

During courtship the male and female will sit together and pass small objects back and forth, such as flower petals or an insect. Mating pairs will sometimes rub their beaks together affectionately.

The flight of waxwings is strong and direct, and the movement of the flock in flight resembles that of a flock of small pale European Starlings.

Vocalizations

The calls of these birds include very high-pitched whistles and buzzy trills often represented as see or sree.

Seasonal movements

Outside the breeding season, Cedar Waxwings often feed in large flocks numbering hundreds of birds. This species is irruptive, with erratic winter movements, though most of the population migrates farther south into the United States and beyond, sometimes reaching as far as northern South America. They will move in huge numbers if berry supplies are low. Rare vagrants have reached western Europe, and there are two recorded occurrences of Cedar Waxwing sightings in Great Britain. Individual Bohemian Waxwings will occasionally join large winter flocks of Cedar Waxwings.

In winter, these birds can be very confident and will come into gardens for berry bushes and trees and to drink from fountains or bird baths.

Cedar waxwings fly at 25 miles per hour and fly at an altitude of 2000 ft.

Diet

The Cedar Waxwing eats berries and sugary fruit year-round, with insects becoming an important part of the diet in the breeding season. Its fondness for the small cones of the Eastern Redcedar (a kind of juniper) gave this bird its common name.

When the end of a twig holds a supply of berries that only one bird at a time can reach, members of a flock may line up along the twig and pass berries beak to beak down the line so that each bird gets a chance to eat. [2][3]

Habitat

Preferred habitat consists of trees at the edge of wooded areas, or "open" forests, especially those that provide access to berry sources as well as water. Waxwings are attracted to the sound of running water, and love to bathe in and drink from shallow creeks. In urban or suburban environments, waxwings often favor parkland with well-spaced trees; golf courses, cemeteries, or other landscaping with well-spaced trees; bushes that provide berries; and a nearby water source such as a fountain or birdbath.

Nesting

The nest is a loose open cup built with grass and twigs, lined with softer materials and supported by a tree branch averaging 2 to 6 meters above ground but, at times, considerably higher. The outer diameter of the nest is approximately 12 cm to 16 cm.

During courtship, the pair may pass a flower petal or insect back and forth repeatedly. Usually 5 or 6 eggs are laid and the female incubates them for 12 to 16 days. The eggs are oval shaped with a smooth surface and very little, if any, gloss. The egg shells are of various shades of light or bluish grey with irregular, dark brown spots or greyish-brown splotches. Both parents build the nest and feed the young. Typically, there are two broods during the mating season. Young leave the nest about 14 to 18 days after hatching.

Cedar Waxwings are also known as the Southern Waxwing, Canada Robin, Cedar Bird, Cherry Bird, or Recellet.

Cedar Waxwings in literature and law

According to experts on the writing of Vladimir Nabokov, this species almost certainly inspired the waxwing mentioned prominently in his novel Pale Fire.

Waxwings are evaluated as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2004). Bombycilla cedrorum. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  2. ^ http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/featured_birds/default.cfm?bird=Cedar_Waxwing
  3. ^ http://www.wordwiz72.com/waxwing.html

Further reading

Book

  • Witmer, M. C., D. J. Mountjoy, and L. Elliot. 1997. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). In The Birds of North America, No. 309 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.

Thesis

  • Best LS. Ph.D. (1981). THE EFFECT OF SPECIFIC FRUIT AND PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ON SEED DISPERSAL. University of Washington, United States – Washington.
  • Gorchov DL. Ph.D. (1987). PROXIMATE AND ULTIMATE CAUSES OF FRUIT RIPENING ASYNCHRONY IN VERTEBRATE-DISPERSED PLANTS IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN. University of Michigan, United States – Michigan.
  • Holthuijzen AMA. Ph.D. (1983). DISPERSAL ECOLOGY OF EASTERN RED CEDAR JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA L. (VIRGINIA). Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, United States – Virginia.
  • Howell JC. Ph.D. (1973). COMMUNICATIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE CEDAR WAXWING (BOMBYCILLA CEDRORUM) AND THE BOHEMIAN WAXWING (BOMBYCILLA GARRULUS). University of Michigan, United States – Michigan.
  • Hudon J. Ph.D. (1989). Keto-carotenoid usage and evolutionary dynamics in birds. The University of Connecticut, United States – Connecticut.
  • Martinez del Rio C. Ph.D. (1990). Sugar preferences in birds: Physiological and ecological correlates. University of Florida, United States – Florida.
  • Mountjoy DJ. M.Sc. (1987). Behavioural ecology of the cedar waxwing during the breeding season. Queen's University at Kingston (Canada), Canada.
  • Neudorf DL. M.Sc. (1991). Nest defense in four host species of the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). The University of Manitoba (Canada), Canada.
  • Putnam LS. Ph.D. (1948). THE BREEDING BEHAVIOR OF THE CEDAR WAXWING (BOMBYCILLA CEDRORUM). The Ohio State University, United States – Ohio.
  • Richardson RK. M.S. (1986). GROWTH PATTERN, NEST SUCCESS, AND PARENTAL INVESTMENT IN AN ISLAND POPULATION OF CEDAR WAXWINGS (BOMBYCILLA CEDRORUM) (MICHIGAN). Central Michigan University, United States – Michigan.
  • Witmer MC. Ph.D. (1994). Contrasting digestive strategies of frugivorous birds. Cornell University, United States – New York.

Articles

  • Brewer R & Drewiske DF. (1980). Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla-Cedrorum Catching Snowflakes. Jack Pine Warbler. vol 58, no 3. pp. 121–122.
  • Browning MR & Banks RC. (1996). Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot, (1808) and Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, (1809) (Aves, Passeriformes): Proposed conservation of the specific names. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. vol 53, no 3. pp. 187–200.
  • Brush AH. (1990). A POSSIBLE SOURCE FOR THE RHODOXANTHIN IN SOME CEDAR WAXWING TAILS - COMMENT. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 61, no 3. pp. 355–355.
  • Buchholz R & Levey DJ. (1990). The Evolutionary Triad of Microbes Fruits and Seed Dispersers an Experiment in Fruit Choice by Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Oikos. vol 59, no 2. pp. 200–204.
  • Burtt EHJ, Sustare BD & Hailman JP. (1976). Cedar Waxwing Feeding from Spider Web. Wilson Bulletin. vol 88, no 1. pp. 157–158.
  • Dowler RC & Swanson GA. (1982). High Mortality of Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla-Cedrorum Associated with Highway Plantings. Wilson Bulletin. vol 94, no 4. pp. 602–603.
  • Fisk EJ. (1970). Common Grackle Kills Cedar Waxwing in Air. Wilson Bulletin. vol 82, no 4.
  • Grubbe O. (1970). Something Concerning the Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Gefiederte Welt. vol 94, no 10. pp. 184–187.
  • Hedrick LD & Woody AD. (1983). Northern Mockingbird Mimus-Polyglottos Kills Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Wilson Bulletin. vol 95, no 1. pp. 157–158.
  • Holthuijzen AMA & Adkisson CS. (1984). Passage Rate Energetics and Utilization Efficiency of the Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Wilson Bulletin. vol 96, no 4. pp. 680–684.
  • Hudon J & Brush AH. (1989). Probable Dietary Basis of a Color Variant of the Cedar Waxwing. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 60, no 3. pp. 361–368.
  • International Commission On Zoological N. (1998). Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot, (1808) and Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, (1809) (Aves, Passeriformes): Specific names conserved. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. vol 55, no 1. pp. 62–63.
  • King DI. (1996). Carnivory observed in the Cedar waxwing. Wilson Bulletin. vol 108, no 2. pp. 381–382.
  • Leck CF & Cantor FL. (1979). Seasonality Clutch Size and Hatching Success in the Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla-Cedrorum. Auk. vol 96, no 1. pp. 196–198.
  • Levey DJ & Duke GE. (1992). How do frugivores process fruit? Gastrointestinal transit and glucose absorption in cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum). Auk. vol 109, no 4. pp. 722–730.
  • Loncke DJ. (1973). Cedar Waxwing Courts White-Throated Sparrow. Auk. vol 90, no 3. pp. 674–675.
  • McKay CR. (2000). Cedar Waxwing in Shetland: New to the Western Palearctic. British Birds. vol 93, no 12. pp. 580–587.
  • Mountjoy DJ & Robertson RJ. (1988). Nest-Construction Tactics in the Cedar Waxwing. Wilson Bulletin. vol 100, no 1. pp. 128–130.
  • Mountjoy DJ & Robertson RJ. (1988). Why Are Waxwings Waxy Delayed Plumage Maturation in the Cedar Waxwing. Auk. vol 105, no 1. pp. 61–69.
  • Mulvihill RS, Parkes KC, Leberman RC & Wood DS. (1992). Evidence Supporting a Dietary Basis for Orange-Tipped Rectrices in the Cedar Waxwing. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 63, no 2. pp. 212–216.
  • Murphy MT, Cummings CL & Palmer MS. (1997). Comparative analysis of habitat selection, nest site and nest success by cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) and eastern kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus). American Midland Naturalist. vol 138, no 2. pp. 344–356.
  • Pittaway R. (1991). Orange-Banded Variant of the Cedar Waxwing. Ontario Birds. vol 9, no 1. pp. 7–8.
  • Rodgers SPJ & Post W. (1989). Cedar Waxwing Breeding on the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina USA. Chat. vol 53, no 4.
  • Rothstein SI. (1971). High Nest Density and Nonrandom Nest Placement in the Cedar Waxwing. Condor. vol 73, no 4. pp. 483–485.
  • Rothstein SI. (1972). Egg Shell Thickness and Its Variation in the Cedar Waxwing. Wilson Bulletin. vol 84, no 4. pp. 469–474.
  • Rothstein SI. (1973). Variation in the Incidence of Hatching Failure in the Cedar Waxwing and Other Species. Condor. vol 75, no 2. pp. 164–169.
  • Rothstein SI. (1976). Cowbird Parasitism of the Cedar Waxwing and Its Evolutionary Implications. Auk. vol 93, no 3. pp. 498–509.
  • Studier EH, Szuch EJ, Tompkins TM & Cope VW. (1988). Nutritional Budgets in Free Flying Birds Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla-Cedrorum Feeding on Washington Hawthorn Fruit Crataegus-Phaenopyrum. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology A. vol 89, no 3. pp. 471–474.
  • Witmer MC. (2001). Nutritional interactions and fruit removal: Cedar Waxwing consumption of Viburnum opulus fruits in spring. Ecology. vol 82, no 11. pp. 3120–3130.
  • Wolfenbarger DO. (1973). Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla-Cedrorum Feeds on Avocado Flowers. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society. vol 85, no 1973. pp. 341–343.

External links