Waxwings
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.
» 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
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