Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Breeds in NC mountains and sporadically and rarely downstate, waxwings can be locally abundant in winter around fruiting shrubs & trees.
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Durham Co., NC
20 Feb 2007

Most waxwing tail tips are yellow, but a small percentage are orange.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Durham Co., NC
20 Feb 2007

Waxwings are named for the red waxy substance produced at the tips of the secondary flight feathers.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Durham Co., NC
20 Feb 2007

Drinking from sapsucker wells in this sugar maple on Duke University's campus.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Durham Co., NC
20 Feb 2007

All of these photos were taken through my office window while sitting at my desk at Duke with only a 100mm macro lens.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Durham Co., NC
20 Feb 2007

Flocking in the treetop just after sunrise, these waxwings are preparing to descend on the nearby sapsucker wells and fruiting hollies.


Back to Jeff's Bird Page | Back to Jeff's Nature Page


Created on ... February 17, 2006 | Updated on ... February 20, 2007 | jspippen@duke.edu