Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum. Photograph taken on Whidbey Island, Washington, March 2011. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum. Photograph taken within a residential community in Alamos, Sonora, March 2018. Photograph and identification courtesy of David F Smith, Alamos, Sonora.
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum. Photograph taken in the greater Bahía de los Ángeles area, Baja California, November 2019. Photograph courtesy of George Flicker, Bahía de los Ángeles. Identification courtesy of Mary & George Flicker, Bahía de los Ángeles.
Background and Identification
The Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum, is one of three global species of the Bombycilla Genus and the Bombycillidae Family of Waxwings and the only Waxwing found in Mexico. This species is known for its sleek, silky plumage and distinctive markings. They feed in large flocks that follow ripening food sources with their diets consisting primarily of fruits that are supplemented by insects when available. They are considered to be frugivores, passing fruit seeds back to the environment intact. This makes them a crucial part of most ecosystems, helping plants spread and thrive. In Mexico, the Cedar Waxwing is known as Ampelis Americano.
The Cedar Waxwing is a medium-sized songbird, with a total length of 15.5 cm (6.1 inches) and an average mass of 32 g (1.13 oz). They are named for the red, wax-like tips of the secondary flight feathers found in the adults. A monomorphic species, the sexes are similar in appearance, however, the male has a more extensive and darker black chin patch. They are sleek and crested with an overall gray-brown plumage. The adults have a sharp black face mask edged with white, a black chin patch, and variable amounts of red, wax-like “droplets” on the tips of their secondaries and pale belly feathers. Their wings are pointed and the tail is square with a distinct yellow band at the terminal tip. The bill is small and the legs and feet are relatively small. During the breeding season, the females tend to be slightly heavier than the males, eating more to sustain the eggs they are developing and guarding.
Habitat and Geographical Range
Cedar Waxwings prefer areas within open woodlands, shrubby fields, parks, and urban areas that have fruit-bearing plants. They breed in orchards and suburban areas abundant in fruiting trees and shrubs.
This species is highly nomadic and will travel extensively in search of food, especially sweet berries. Cedar Waxwings are found across North America, most often during the breeding season. In Winter, they migrate to the southern U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. They are found throughout Mexico at elevations between 500 m (1,650 feet) and 2,000 m (6,600 feet). They winter throughout Mexico but are uncommon in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Common Misidentifications
Cedar Waxwings can be confused with the Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, which is slightly larger and has white and yellow wing markings along with a more rufous face and a gray belly. The Bohemian Waxwing has an average mass of 55 g (1.94 oz). Another potential look-alike is the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis. The Cedar Waxwing is smaller than this cardinal and the cardinal’s bright red plumage and distinctive crest make it easier to differentiate.
Conservation Status
From a conservation perspective the Cedar Waxwing is currently considered to be of Least Concern with expanding, widely distributed populations which is attributed to human developments.