Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

With its masked face and yellow-tipped tail, this social fruit-eater feasts in groups of up to 40 in backyard gardens and orchards across North America.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

Cedar Waxwings are sleek, medium-sized songbirds with a distinctive crest and silky plumage. Their bodies are primarily pale brown, transitioning to soft gray on the wings and tail. The tail is tipped with bright yellow, and adults often have small red waxy tips on their wing feathers.

Both sexes look similar, with a black mask outlined in white, a pale yellow belly, and a yellowish undertail. Juveniles are streakier and lack the adult's sleek appearance and bright wing tips.

Size

Length

15cm to 18cm

Wingspan

22cm to 30cm

Weight

30g to 40g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

Yellow Red

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Cedar Waxwing can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Cedar Waxwing can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Cedar Waxwing is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Cedar Waxwing is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Cedar Waxwing can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Cedar Waxwing is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Cedar Waxwing is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Cedar Waxwing is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Cedar Waxwing is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Cedar Waxwing is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Cedar Waxwing is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Cedar Waxwing is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Cedar Waxwings inhabit a variety of wooded and semi-open habitats across North America, from southern Canada to the northern parts of Central America. They show a preference for areas with fruiting trees and shrubs, including orchards, parklands, and suburban gardens.

During winter, they are more widespread in the United States and can be found in large numbers in the southern states. In summer, their breeding range extends further north into Canada and Alaska.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,200 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Cedar Waxwing. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons