Bohemian Waxwing (Female) perching on tree branch.
Bohemian waxwing
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Bombycillidae
Genus:
Bombycilla
Species:
B. garrulus
Binomial name
Bombycilla garrulus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Range of B. garrulus
Breeding
Resident
Non-breeding
(All ranges are approximate, and many birds occur outside the main wintering range even in non-irruption years.)
Synonyms
Lanius garrulusLinnaeus, 1758
Ampelis garrulusLinnaeus, 1766
Bombycilla garrulus in Ontario, Canada
The Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is a starling-sized passerine bird that breeds in the northern forests of the Palearctic and North America. It has mainly buff-grey plumage, black face markings and a pointed crest. Its wings are patterned with white and bright yellow, and some of the wing feathers have red tips, the resemblance of which to sealing wax gives these birds their common name. The three subspecies show only minor differences in appearance. Females are similar to males, although young birds are less well-marked and have few or no waxy wingtips. Although the Bohemian waxwing's range overlaps those of the cedar and Japanese waxwings, it is easily distinguished from them by size and plumage differences.
The breeding habitat is coniferous forests, usually near water. The pair build a lined cup-shaped nest in a tree or bush, often close to the trunk. The clutch of 3–7 eggs is incubated by the female alone for 13–14 days to hatching. The chicks are altricial and naked, and are fed by both parents, initially mostly with insects, but thereafter mainly fruit. They fledge about 14–16 days after leaving the egg. Many birds desert their nesting range in winter and migrate farther south. In some years, large numbers of Bohemian waxwings irrupt well beyond their normal winter range in search of the fruit that makes up most of their diet.
Waxwings can be very tame in winter, entering towns and gardens in search of food, rowan berries being a particular favourite. They can metabolise alcohol produced in fermenting fruit, but can still become intoxicated, sometimes fatally. Other hazards include predation by birds of prey, infestation by parasites and collisions with cars or windows. The Bohemian waxwing's high numbers and very large breeding area mean that it is classified as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Bombycilla garrulus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22708146A87399543. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22708146A87399543.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
The Bohemianwaxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is a starling-sized passerine bird that breeds in the northern forests of the Palearctic and North America....
three species: the Bohemianwaxwing (B. garrulus), the Japanese waxwing (B. japonica) and the cedar waxwing (B. cedrorum). Waxwings are not long-distance...
The cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the family Bombycillidae or waxwing family of passerine birds. It is a medium-sized, mostly brown...
The Japanese waxwing (Bombycilla japonica) is a fairly small passerine bird of the waxwing family found in the East Palaearctic. It feeds mainly on fruit...
northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Order: Passeriformes Family: Hypocoliidae The...
live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (C) Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum Order: Passeriformes Family:...
live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (A) Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum Order: Passeriformes Family:...
are also cosmetically coloured during preening. The preen oil of the Bohemianwaxwing increases the UV reflectance of its feathers. Ritualised preening is...
insects in summer and berries in winter.: 368–370 Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (B) Order: Passeriformes Family:...
insects in summer and berries in winter.: 368–370 Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (B) Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (B) Order: Passeriformes Family:...
live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum Order: Passeriformes Family:...
origin in the Mesozoic. Ricinus bombycillae, an amblyceran louse from a Bohemianwaxwing Trinoton anserinum, an amblyceran louse from a mute swan Bovicola limbata...
These are arboreal birds of northern forests. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (B) Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (B) Order: Passeriformes Family:...
on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing (tilhi), Bombycilla garrulus Bohemianwaxwing Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae The...
Bombycillidae The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these...
northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing (ampelis europeo), Bombycilla garrulus (A) Order: Passeriformes Family:...
live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (A) Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum Order: Passeriformes Family:...
live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (A) Order: Passeriformes Family:...
live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Japanese waxwing, Bombycilla japonica Order: Passeriformes Family:...
live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum Order: Passeriformes Family:...
squirrel. The fruit are eaten by migratory birds in winter, including Bohemianwaxwing, spotted nutcracker, and redwing. Cloven-hoofed game also excessively...
on insects in the summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus LC Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum LC Order: Passeriformes Family:...
These are arboreal birds of northern forests. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Japanese waxwing, Bombycilla japonica Order: Passeriformes Family:...
winter. Two species have been recorded in Michigan. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum Order: Passeriformes Family:...
winter. Two species have been recorded in Wisconsin. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum Order: Passeriformes Family:...
on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing (sidensvans), Bombycilla garrulus Cedar waxwing (tujasidensvans), Bombycilla cedrorum (A) Order:...
live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Bohemianwaxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (R) Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum Order: Passeriformes Family:...
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