C
Species Profile

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

The berry-loving bird in a velvet mask
iStock.com/hannurama

Cedar Waxwing Distribution

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Found in 76 locations

cedar perched in berry tree

At a Glance

Wild Species
Also Known As Waxwing, Cedarbird, Cherry bird
Diet Omnivore
Activity Diurnal+
Lifespan 2 years
Weight 0.035 lbs
Status Least Concern
Did You Know?

Size: about 15-18 cm long; wingspan about 22-30 cm; mass about 0.032 kg (about 32 g).

Scientific Classification

The Cedar Waxwing is a sleek, crested North American songbird known for its black facial mask, silky plumage, yellow tail tip, and (often) red wax-like tips on the wing feathers. It is highly frugivorous and frequently forages in flocks.

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Bombycillidae
Genus
Bombycilla
Species
Bombycilla cedrorum

Distinguishing Features

  • Prominent crest and smooth, silky tan-to-gray plumage
  • Black mask bordered with white
  • Bright yellow band at the tip of the tail
  • Often shows small red waxy tips on secondary wing feathers (variable)
  • Social, often seen in cohesive flocks; diet heavily centered on berries and small fruits

Physical Measurements

Length
6 in (6 in – 7 in)
Weight
0 lbs (0 lbs – 0 lbs)
Top Speed
24 mph
About 39 km/h (not confirmed)

Appearance

Primary Colors
Brown Gray Tan
Secondary Colors
Black Yellow Red White
Skin Type Feathered (contour feathers with a soft, silky appearance; small erectile crest).
Distinctive Features
  • Small-to-medium, sleek crested songbird; typical size: length 16-19 cm, wingspan 22-30 cm, mass about 0.032 kg (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Cedar Waxwing).
  • Prominent, pointed crest that can be raised or flattened; usually appears swept-back in relaxed posture.
  • High-contrast black mask bordered by narrow pale/whitish edging; a key field mark at most distances.
  • Tail shows a clean, narrow yellow terminal band; most visible in flight or when tail is spread.
  • Wing feathers may show red, wax-like tips on secondaries (variable; frequently present in adults, fewer/absent in many juveniles).
  • Underparts often show a soft buff-to-yellow wash, especially toward the belly/undertail coverts.
  • North American range; often nomadic/seasonally shifting distribution tied to fruit availability; commonly seen moving and feeding in flocks outside the breeding season (species-typical behavior).
  • Strongly frugivorous for much of the year; frequently forages on berries and small fruits, often in cohesive flocks that move from tree to tree (species-typical behavior).
  • Distinguished from Bohemian Waxwing by smaller size and generally less gray overall; Cedar typically shows cleaner yellow tail tip and less extensive, less showy wing patterning (Bohemian is larger with bolder wing markings).
  • Longevity: record (maximum) known lifespan 7 years 2 months based on banding recoveries (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory longevity records for Cedar Waxwing).

Did You Know?

Size: about 15-18 cm long; wingspan about 22-30 cm; mass about 0.032 kg (about 32 g).

Diet is heavily fruit-based for much of the year; they may switch to insects (especially for feeding nestlings) when protein demand is high.

They can become intoxicated from fermented berries; flockmates may be seen acting "drunk" after feeding on overripe fruit.

Their breeding season can be later than many songbirds (often peaking in mid-to-late summer) to match peak berry abundance.

Courtship includes passing berries (or petals/insects) back and forth-an unusually "gift-based" pair-bond display among songbirds.

Oldest known banded individual reported: 8 years, 2 months (longevity record from bird-banding data).

The red "wax" tips on wing feathers are not always present and are more common/noticeable in older individuals (a field mark that varies).

Unique Adaptations

  • Frugivore-friendly bill and gape: A relatively wide gape and short, broad bill help them take and swallow whole berries efficiently, enabling rapid flock feeding.
  • Digestive tolerance for sugary fruit: Their physiology is well-suited to processing high-sugar diets; this can also lead to accidental intoxication when fruit ferments.
  • Seasonal, nomadic movement: Rather than strict long-distance migration like many songbirds, they often make flexible, food-driven movements across North America, tracking local fruit availability.
  • Wax-like wing tips (ornamental adaptation): The red, waxy-looking tips (on secondary wing feathers) are a distinctive trait of waxwings; in Cedar Waxwings this ornament varies and is often associated with maturity/condition.
  • Sleek plumage for efficient flight: Their smooth, silky feathering and streamlined shape support fast, direct flights between fruiting trees-useful for a species that forages over broad areas.

Interesting Behaviors

  • Flocking and "follow-the-fruit" movements: Cedar Waxwings are highly social outside breeding; flocks roam widely and can appear suddenly where fruit crops ripen, then vanish when supplies are depleted.
  • High-speed, coordinated foraging: Flocks often move tree-to-tree rapidly, with many birds feeding at once and swallowing berries whole.
  • Fruit-sharing courtship: Paired birds may repeatedly pass a berry back and forth; the sequence often ends with one bird eating it-reinforcing pair bonds before nesting.
  • Aerial insect hawking: Despite being famously frugivorous, they commonly sally out from perches to catch flying insects (especially in spring/summer) and may hover briefly to pluck insects or fruit.
  • Late-season nesting strategy: Many pairs initiate nesting later than other passerines, timing chick-rearing with summer fruit and insect peaks.
  • Gape-and-swallow feeding: They typically pluck berries and swallow them whole; this supports rapid feeding in flocks and makes them efficient seed dispersers.
  • Soft, high calls to maintain cohesion: In flocks, their thin, lisping whistles help keep birds together while moving through treetops.

Cultural Significance

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a well-known "berry bird" in North America, drawn to cedar/juniper berries and winter fruit trees in towns. Birdwatchers love its crest, black mask and yellow tail band. They flock and are key seed dispersers, helping habitat restoration and native plant gardening.

Myths & Legends

19th-century naturalists named the Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) for eating cedar and juniper berries and for the red, wax-like tips on its wings, an image common in early bird writings.

In parts of northern Europe, winter arrivals of Bombycilla waxwings (especially the Bohemian Waxwing) were seen as omens of harsh winters or food shortage; these stories still appear in local folklore.

In modern North American nature writing and local stories, flocks of Cedar Waxwings eating berries from trees are used as winter symbols—signs of plenty or a coming cold snap, linked to heavy fruit crops.

Conservation Status

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant in the wild.

Population Increasing

Protected Under

  • United States: Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) - protects native migratory birds, including Cedar Waxwing, from unpermitted take/possession/sale.
  • Canada: Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 - provides federal protection for migratory birds, nests, and eggs.

Life Cycle

Birth 4 chicks
Lifespan 2 years

Lifespan

In the Wild
0.5–8.17 years
In Captivity
0.5–9 years

Reproduction

Mating System Monogamy
Social Structure Socially Monogamous
Breeding Pattern Seasonal
Fertilization Internal Fertilization
Birth Type Internal_fertilization

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is seasonally socially monogamous: pairs form to breed. Courtship includes food-sharing. Breed June–August; clutch 3–5 eggs (often 4); incubation 12–14 days; nestlings fledge 14–18 days. Flocks outside breeding; no helpers; lifespan ~8 years.

Behavior & Ecology

Social Flock Group: 30
Activity Diurnal, Crepuscular
Diet Omnivore Juniper ("cedar") berries, especially eastern redcedar fruits, when available.
Seasonal Migratory 1,243 mi

Temperament

Highly social and gregarious; typically tolerant of close conspecific spacing at fruiting trees and during communal roosting
Generally non-territorial in the nonbreeding season; breeding territory defense is limited compared with many passerines (often centered on nest vicinity rather than broad areas)
Resource-driven and nomadic: movements and local abundance track phenology of fruit crops; flock cohesion and group size vary strongly with fruit availability
Often exhibits cooperative/tolerant feeding behaviors such as sequential berry-taking and courtship berry-passing; can show brief aggression at crowded fruit sources (displacements)
Predator response includes group vigilance and rapid, coordinated flushes; flocking likely reduces individual predation risk

Communication

high, thin, continuous contact calls (often described as 'sree'/'tsee' notes) used to maintain flock cohesion in flight and while foraging
softer courtship calls and begging calls by juveniles; overall song is minimal compared with many passerines Species is more call-driven than song-driven in most contexts) (Winkler, Billerman & Lovette 2020, Birds of the World
visual displays: crest raising/lowering and posture changes in social contexts; wing/tail flicking
courtship 'object passing' Commonly berry or flower petal) between pair members, sometimes escalating to copulation; functions as pair-bond reinforcement (Winkler, Billerman & Lovette 2020, Birds of the World
group movement cues: tightly synchronized flock turns and follow-the-leader flight/foraging movements that help maintain cohesion
spatial signaling at resources: subtle displacements and approach/avoidance distances at fruit clusters communicate dominance/priority without prolonged fights

Habitat

Forest Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest Woodland Shrubland Grassland Wetland River/Stream Lake Urban Suburban Agricultural/Farmland Plantation Coastal +8
Biomes:
Temperate Forest Boreal Forest (Taiga) Temperate Rainforest Temperate Grassland Mediterranean Wetland Freshwater +1
Terrain:
Plains Hilly Mountainous Plateau Valley Riverine Coastal Island +2
Elevation: Up to 9842 ft 6 in

Ecological Role

Frugivore-leaning omnivore; key mid-trophic consumer linking fruiting shrubs/trees to higher predators.

Seed dispersal for many native fruiting shrubs and trees (seeds dispersed after being swallowed with fruit and later deposited) Seasonal suppression of insect populations during breeding season (insect predation) Prey base for raptors and other predators (energy transfer in woodland/edge ecosystems)

Diet Details

Main Prey:
Fruit Beetles Caterpillars Aphids and scale insects Ant Mayflies Small dragonflies and damselflies Grasshoppers and crickets Spiders +3
Other Foods:
Fleshy fruits and berries Flower petals and nectar-rich blossoms

Human Interaction

Domestication Status

Wild

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a wild, migratory North American songbird in family Bombycillidae. It is not domesticated and is protected by laws (e.g., U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act). People mostly watch them; harms are accidental (window strikes, fermented fruit collisions). Size ~15–18 cm, weight ~0.03–0.04 kg.

Danger Level

Low
  • Very low direct physical risk (small passerine; bites/scratches minor and uncommon outside handling).
  • Potential indirect health risk is low but includes general wild-bird zoonotic considerations during handling (e.g., Salmonella at feeders; ectoparasites); risk mainly applies to people who capture/handle birds without proper hygiene/PPE.
  • Property/quality-of-life nuisance is usually minor: flock feeding can rapidly strip berry trees; occasional droppings where flocks roost.

As a Pet

Not Suitable as Pet

Legality: Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) are usually illegal to keep as pets in the U.S. and Canada without federal permits. Only licensed wildlife rehabbers, researchers, or schools may legally have them.

Care Level: Expert Only

Purchase Cost:
Lifetime Cost: $2,000 - $15,000

Economic Value

Uses:
Non-consumptive ecotourism (birdwatching) Ecosystem services (seed dispersal; insect consumption during breeding season) Agriculture/ornamental impacts (localized fruit crop depredation; berry stripping of landscaping plants) Research and education (banding studies; permitted wildlife ambassadors)
Products:
  • wildlife-viewing value (no commercial product)
  • educational programming value via permitted facilities (no commercial harvest)

Relationships

Predators 10

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
Merlin Falco columbarius
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Domestic Cat
Domestic Cat Felis catus
Blue Jay
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raccoon
Common Raccoon Procyon lotor

Related Species 6

Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Shared Genus
Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla japonica Shared Genus
Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens Shared Order
Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher Phainoptila melanoxantha Shared Order
Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys caudatus Shared Order
Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys cinereus Shared Order

Ecological Equivalents 5

Animals that fill a similar ecological role in their ecosystem

American Robin
American Robin Turdus migratorius Overlap in the frugivore/insectivore niche in North America: both species switch seasonally to fruit and forage in flocks. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is highly frugivorous and often nomadic; length 15–18 cm, mass ~0.03 kg.
European Starling
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Competes for fruiting trees and shrubs and forages gregariously. Both species can form large, mobile feeding flocks that track patchy food resources.
Gray Catbird
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Shares use of shrub and edge habitats and strongly relies on berries during migration and late summer; overlaps on many of the same fruiting plants (e.g., dogwoods, serviceberries, elderberries).
American Cedar Waxwing-like frugivore Myadestes townsendi Occupies a similar winter niche in parts of western North America, where both species can focus heavily on berry resources (notably juniper). The solitaire is more territorial around fruit, while the Cedar Waxwing is characteristically flocking and can be highly social at fruiting trees.
Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator Winter frugivore that can overlap with Cedar Waxwing in northern/taiga-edge habitats and on ornamental fruit crops; both species may move irruptively or nomadically in response to fruit availability (Cedar Waxwing especially).

The cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) lives in North America and inhabits open areas with fruiting trees and shrubs. These birds are highly social and live in flocks year-round, often seen passing fruit to each other as they perch on branches. Listen for their high-pitched whistles as they fly over water or hover near berry bushes. Find out everything there is to know about this waxwing, including where it lives, what it eats, and how it behaves.

5 Amazing Cedar Waxwing Facts

  • Their feathers have red, waxy tips that can be hard to identify unless you’re up close. 
  • Cedar waxwings are a social species, even nesting in small colonies.
  • They are strong fliers and can reach up to 25 mph.
  • This species is serially monogamous, meaning they mate with one partner per breeding season.
  • They have a large population, around 64 million, and their numbers are steadily increasing.

Where to Find the Cedar Waxwing

Cedar waxwings live in North America in 15 countries, including Canada, Mexico, the United States, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas. This species is migratory, spending its springs and summers in Southern Canada and its winters throughout the US, Mexico, and Central America. They inhabit open woodlands with abundant fruiting trees, like orchards, forest edges, streamsides, swamp edges, and backyards. Their breeding habitats are solely chosen by the availability of fruiting trees and shrubs. 

Cedar Waxwing Nest

They place their nests in trees on a horizontal branch or fork, around six to twenty feet above the ground. Both sexes build a loosely constructed open cup of grass and twigs lined with moss, grass, and animal hair.

Classification and Scientific Name

The cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is from the Bombycillidae family, which includes the waxwings, three species of passerine birds. The genus name, Bombycilla, is Ancient Greek and Latin for “silk” and “tail.” And its specific name, cedrorum, is Latin for “of the cedars.”  

Size, Appearance, & Behavior

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar waxwings are short to long-distance migrants. They breed in Central to Southern Canada and spend winters in the Southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.

©Paul Tymon/Shutterstock.com

The cedar waxwing is a medium-sized passerine bird, measuring six to seven inches long and weighing 1.1 ounces, with an 8.7 to 11.8-inch wingspan. They have rotund bodies with large heads and broad, short bills. They have short tails and wide, pointed wings, and their crest is flat and lies over the back of their head. It has a light brown head and chest, a yellow belly, gray wings, and a black face mask outlined in white. Its tail is also gray with yellow tips, and its wings have red, waxy tips on the end of the feathers. 

These are highly social birds who stay in flocks year-round and will even nest in small communities. They are solid, steady fliers with constant wing beats reaching 25 mph. It often calls, especially in flight. Their calls sound like high-pitched whistles and buzzy trills. They flutter around berry branches, passing fruit to one another. 

Migration Pattern and Timing

Cedar waxwings are short to long-distance migrants. They breed in Central to Southern Canada and spend winters in the Southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. Some populations in the northern half of the United States live year-round in their environments.

Diet

Cedar waxwings are omnivores that forage in flocks.

What Does the Cedar Waxwing Eat?

Their diet includes berries, small fruit, flowers, oozing sap, and insects. They feed on various berries like wild cherries and juniper and consume insects like beetles, ants, and caterpillars. These birds forage alone or in pairs during the nesting season but eat in flocks the rest of the year. They hover over vegetation to take berries and insects, and they will catch flying insects mid-air.

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

The IUCN lists the cedar waxwing as LC or “least concern”. Due to its extensive range and extremely large, increasing population, this species does not meet the “threatened” status criteria. The most significant threat to the cedar waxwing is collisions with cars and windows. They could potentially be affected by climate change in the future and suffer from spring heat waves and wildfires.

What Eats the Cedar Waxwing?

Cedar waxwing predators include merlins, hawks, grackles, and bullfrogs. Blue jays and house wrens are their nest predators. Not much is known about how these birds defend themselves, but they may find safety in numbers. 

Cedar waxwing bird

Their diet includes berries, small fruit, flowers, oozing sap, and insects. They feed on various berries like wild cherries and juniper and consume insects like beetles, ants, and caterpillars.

©Skyler Ewing/Shutterstock.com

Reproduction, Young, and Molting

Cedar waxwings are serially monogamous, meaning they mate with only one partner per breeding season. Their courtship displays include posturing, touching bills, and passing food back and forth. Their nesting season is late and doesn’t begin until mid-summer, and they lay two broods per year. Females lay two to six, typically three to five, pale blue-gray eggs with brown and black spots. Females incubate for 12 to 13 days, but both parents assist in feeding the nestlings. The young fledge the nest 14 to 18 days after hatching and can reproduce around one year old. This species can live up to eight years in the wild.

Population

The global cedar waxwing population is estimated to number 64 million mature individuals. Trends suggest their numbers increased over 7% in the last ten years and continue to increase slowly. Their numbers are not experiencing any extreme fluctuations or fragmentations.

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Niccoy Walker

About the Author

Niccoy Walker

Niccoy is a professional writer for A-Z Animals, and her primary focus is on birds, travel, and interesting facts of all kinds. Niccoy has been writing and researching about travel, nature, wildlife, and business for several years and holds a business degree from Metropolitan State University in Denver. A resident of Florida, Niccoy enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time at the beach.
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Cedar Waxwing FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Cedar waxwings live in North America in 15 countries, including Canada, Mexico, The United States, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas.

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