Cedar Waxwing
Description: Cream colored body with darker back and gray wings. Red "wax drops" on wing tips and yellow tail tip. Prominent black mask. The similar Bohemian Waxwing is larger, less yellow overall and bears a more complex wing marking. The Bohemian also has rusty under-tail coverts and a lower sounding call. The red droplets truly are a wax-like secretion.
Habitat: Deciduous forests, river edges and forest edges. Flocks gather in fall and some stay through the winter.
Nest: Cup of grass, weed stems, leaves, catkins, and twigs. Lining is plant down, leaf and fruit stems, and tree flowers. Nest usually has a messy look from the outside. Typically placed high in trees but sometimes lower (5'). Commonly built in large shade trees and is loosely colonial in nesting. Maples seem to be the preferred nest site of this species. They nest late in the year, mid summer or later.
Eggs: 3-5 bluish white eggs with black markings.
Diet: Mainly fruit, also a large amount of insects. Fruit is taken year round. Chokecherries, ornamental fruits, wild grapes, juniper, and service berry fruits are all commonly taken. Insects are caught out of the air and gleaned from foliage. They can be attracted with fruit bearing shrubs and trees.
Habitat: Deciduous forests, river edges and forest edges. Flocks gather in fall and some stay through the winter.
Nest: Cup of grass, weed stems, leaves, catkins, and twigs. Lining is plant down, leaf and fruit stems, and tree flowers. Nest usually has a messy look from the outside. Typically placed high in trees but sometimes lower (5'). Commonly built in large shade trees and is loosely colonial in nesting. Maples seem to be the preferred nest site of this species. They nest late in the year, mid summer or later.
Eggs: 3-5 bluish white eggs with black markings.
Diet: Mainly fruit, also a large amount of insects. Fruit is taken year round. Chokecherries, ornamental fruits, wild grapes, juniper, and service berry fruits are all commonly taken. Insects are caught out of the air and gleaned from foliage. They can be attracted with fruit bearing shrubs and trees.