Birding Waxwings - BirdingGuide.com

Home | Site Map | Contact

Welcome to BirdingGuide.com - the definitive information guide to birding and bird watching ... and Computer website related directory

Waxwings
» Medium-sized songbird.
» Gray-brown overall.
» Crest on top of head.
» Black mask edged in white.
» Yellow tip to tail; may be orange.
» Size: 14-17 cm (6-7 in)
» Wing span: 22-30 cm (9-12 in)
» Weight: 32 g (1.13 ounces)
» Sexes nearly alike

The Cedar Waxwing is one of the most frugivorous birds in North America. Many aspects of its life, from its nomadic habits to its late breeding season, may be traced to its dependence upon fruit. The name "waxwing" comes from the waxy red appendages found in variable numbers on the tips of the secondaries of some birds. The exact function of these tips is not known, but they may serve a signaling function in mate selection. Cedar Waxwings with orange instead of yellow tail tips began appearing in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada beginning in the 1960s. The orange color is the result of a red pigment picked up from the berries of an introduced species of honeysuckle. If a waxwing eats the berries while it is growing a tail feather, the tip of the feather will be orange. The Cedar Waxwing is one of the few temperate dwelling birds that specializes in eating fruit. It can survive on fruit alone for several months. Unlike many birds that regurgitate seeds from fruit they eat, the Cedar Waxwing defecates fruit seeds. The Cedar Waxwing is vulnerable to alcohol intoxication and death after eating fermented fruit.

ORDER	FAMILY	COMMON NAME
» Gaviiformes	» Gaviidae	» Common Loon
» Podicipediformes	» Podicipedidae	» Grebes
» Procellariiformes	» Diomedeidae	» Albatross
	» Procellariidae	» Shearwaters/Petrels
	» Hydrobatidae	» Storm Petrels
» Ciconiformes	» Ardeidae	» Herons/Bitterns
	» Threskiornithidae	» Ibises
	» Ciconiidae	» Storks
» Phoenicopteridae	» Phoenicopteridae	» Flamingos
» Anseriformes	» Anatidae	» Waterfowl
» Falconiformes	» Cathartidae	» Vultures
	» Pandionidae	» Ospreys
	» Accipitridae	» Hawks
	» Falconidae	» Falcons
» Galliformes	» Cracidae	» Curassow
	» Phasianidae	» Pheasants
	» Odontophoridae	» Quail
» Gruiformes	» Rallidae	» Rails
	» Aramidae	» Limpkins
	» Gruidae	» Cranes
» Charadriiformes	» Charadriidae	» Plovers
	» Haematopodidae	» Oystercatchers
	» Recurvirostridae	» Stilts/Avocets
	» Scolopacidae	» Sandpiper/Phalarope
	» Laridae	» Gulls/Terns
	» Alcidae	» Auks/Alcids
» Columbiformes	» Columbidae	» Pigeons/Doves
» Psittaciformes	» Psittacidae	» Parrots
» Cuculiformes	» Cuculidae	» Cuckoos
» Cuculiformes	» Cuculidae	» Roadrunners
» Strigiformes	» Tytonidae	» Barn Owls
	» Strigidae	» Typical Owls
» Caprimulgiformes	» Caprimulgidae	» Goatsuckers
» Apodiformes	» Apodidae	» Swifts
	» Trochilidae	» Hummingbirds
» Piciformes	» Alcedinidae	» Kingfishers
» Coraciiformes	» Picidae	» Woodpeckers
» Passeriformes Part I	» Tyrannidae	» Flycatchers
	» Alauidae	» Larks
	» Hirundinidae	» Swallows
	» Corvidae	» Jays
	» Corvidae	» Crows
	» Paridae	» Chickadees
	» Paridae	» Titmice
	» Sittidae	» Nuthatches
	» Certhiidae	» Creepers
	» Troglodytidae	» Wrens
	» Muscicapidae	» Kinglets
	» Muscicapidae	» Thrushes
» Passeriformes Part II	» Mimidae	» Mockingbirds
	» Motacillidae	» Pipits
	» Motacillidae	» Wagtails
	» Bombycillidae	» Waxwings
	» Ptilogonatidae	» Silky-Flycatchers
	» Laniidae	» Shrikes
	» Sturnidae	» Starlings
	» Vireonidae	» Vireos
	» Coerebidae	» Bananaquits
	» Pycnonotidae	» Bulbuls
» Passeriformes Part III	» Emberizidae	» Warblers
	» Emberizidae	» Sparrows
	» Fringillidae	» Finches
	» Passeridae	» Weaver Finches

Bird rescue & bird adoption; parrot refuge/rescue & placement for unwanted birds.

Check out our list of local birds broken down by your state and different types of species.

Migrating birds stay on track because of chemical reactions in their bodies that are influenced by the Earth's magnetic field...

   November 19, 2004

ASIAN BIRDS FACE
THREAT OF EXTINCTION
-- Bangkok, Thailand

More than 300 bird specias in Asia are threatened with extinction due to logging, farming and development.

Conservationists along with bird specialists were speaking in Bangkok on the sidelines of the World Conservation Union meeting, attended by 6000 officials, scientists, excutives and environmentalists from around the world...



   November 20, 2004

CUB SCOUTS PROVIDE
NESTING BOXES FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS

Jerry McNair and Terrie Gartman help cub scout, Mason Gartman, build a bluebird nesting house at the Heard Natural Science Museum Wednesday afternoon...

Birding News Sponsor

CONTACT ABOUT US RESOURCES BINOCULAR REVIEWS GROUPS BY STATE NEWS PHOTO GALLERY