Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum is a species of waxwing in the Bombycilla genus and Bombycillidae family. They are closely related to the Bohemian Waxwing and Japanese Waxwing. The Cedar Waxwing has two subspecies, cedrorum and larifuga, but is sometimes considered monotypic.



Description
It has a length of c. 15.5 cm and a weight of c. 32 g. Sexes similar, but males have a black throat and females have a browner throat. Differences are subtle and may be challenging to see under most field conditions.

Smaller than Bohemian Waxwing, with pale yellow belly and whitish undertail coverts. Tip of tail usually yellow, broadest in males. In much of Eastern North America, however; the introduction of an exotic honeysuckle − with the red carotenoid rhodoxanthin — has led to it moulting in the tail feathers with an orangish tip; the exact colour depends upon how much honeysuckle it eats during its moult.

Similar species
Bohemian Waxwing is similar but larger, greyer, has rufous undertail coverts, white bar on primary coverts and chestnut wash on face. A juvenile Cedar can be separated by a Bohemian by its lack of white wing patches, and lack of any rufous on undertail coverts.

Diet
Besides fruit, eats sap from maple trees, and flower petals of apple and pecan trees. Eats many insects in summer, especially elm leaf beetles, weevils, carpenter ants, sawfly larvae, cicadas, scale insects, caterpillars, and especially fond of cankerworms; feeds very young nestlings insects, but within a few days, adds cherries or berries, which adults carry in throat to young.

Calls
Emits a faint, high-pitched thrilled whistle consisting of tseee-tseee-tseee, higher and less trilled than Bohemian. Also, a long, high, pure seeeee; and a shorter descending sweew, longer than analogous call of Bohemian. Does not sing.