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Henry Sowell

Vol. I · Est. 2026

Pl. XII
Field-journal plate: Cedar Waxwing
The Cedar Waxwing plate as rendered on the e-ink frame
As rendered on the frame

The Birds · Plate XII

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

Bombycillidae · Taxon 7428

Length5.5–6.7 in (14–17 cm)
Wingspan8.7–11.8 in (22–30 cm)
Weightabout 1.1 oz (32 g)

Field marks

  1. Sleek, silky-plumaged songbird with a pointed, often swept-back crest
  2. Narrow black face mask crisply edged in white
  3. Warm tan-brown head and breast grading into soft gray wings and back
  4. Pale yellow belly; short, square-tipped dark tail with a bright yellow terminal band
  5. Short, broad dark bill and dark eye; dark legs
  6. Some adults show small red wax-like tips on the secondary wing feathers

HabitatOpen deciduous, coniferous, or mixed woodlands; forest edges, old fields, orchards, parks, gardens, and other fruiting trees or shrubs, often near water.

BehaviorSocial and often seen in flocks year-round. Feeds mainly on fruit, swallowing berries whole or taking them during brief hovering flights; supplements its diet with flying insects in summer.

Palette

warm tan-brownsoft blue-graypale yellowblackwhitewax red