Cedar Waxwing from Google
A treat to find in your binocular viewfield, the Cedar Waxwing is a silky, shiny collection of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow, accented with a subdued crest, rakish black mask, and brilliant-red wax droplets on the wing feathers. In fall these birds gather by the hundreds to eat berries, filling the air with their high, thin, whistles. In summer you’re as likely to find them flitting about over rivers in pursuit of flying insects, where they show off dazzling aeronautics for a forest bird.
Waxwing refers to the red on the tip of the wing. They travel in flocks, congregate at holly trees and any water source. We've been honored to have them in our yard 2 times. The below pictures were early January 2026. I was inside my pictures are not as good as the ones below taken in 2012.
Will cedar waxwings come to feeders? Although bird feeders hold no attraction for them, Cedar Waxwings may come to visit your winter yard if you have any plants that bear fruits or berries.
(FYI: all the debris on the other side of the fence belongs to our neighbor...It is where he stores material from projects. We have paid to have Skip Laurel shrubs planted along the fence to hide lots it. The big area where there is not shrub has tree stump and roots. We can't plant there)
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Notice on upper left there is a Cedar Waxwing coming for a landing. We had probably 20 all over the back yard in the holly on the dogwood waiting their turn for a sip of water.
Last sighting was February 2012...14 years.
I was outside when they visited got excellent photos.
They winter in our area but Mom rarely sees them. Yesterday
there were dozens and dozens of them in our backyard and at our birdbath. They normally migrate to our mountains in early March
Mom says the mild winter must have them confused.
Note the red tips (thus wax wing) on their wings and their yellow tipped tail
EXTRA Nature Friday from my friend in Palm Coast, Florida.
Sunday February 1 it was 23 degrees at wake up
Photo was taken Feb 2, 2026, it was 26 at wake up
. This is a fountain at her office
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Click here Hostess Miss Mimi
FLASH BACK with Madi 2012
Madison D Cat aka Kitchen Kop
