Cedar Waxwing or Bohemian Waxwing?

Here's how to tell the difference

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

How to recognise a cedar waxwing?

General appearance

The Cedar Waxwing is bird roughly the size of a Robin or Sparrow, fluctuating between 6 1/2-8 inches or 17-20 cm. The waxwing sports a yellow band on its tail tip and a narrow dark mask on its face which highlights its striking yellow belly. The bird's wings are pointed and its tail has a rounded, short, square shape. The Cedar Waxwing has a short crest atop its head which further accentuates its overall appearance. The bird’s color profile includes shades of black, brown, gray, red, tan, white, and yellow.

Male vs female

The Cedar Waxwing does not exhibit significant sexual dimorphism. This means both male and female individuals share similar coloration and physical traits, making it challenging to distinguish between them based solely on visual appearance. Therefore, the typical characteristics such as the yellow tail band, narrow dark mask, and pointed wings apply to both genders.

Juvenile

In comparison to adults, juvenile Cedar Waxwings have blurry streaks on their plumage. Despite their young age and less defined color patterns, juveniles can still be identified by the diagnostic yellow tail band that is common across all ages and genders of this species. In the far north or in the winter season, their appearance might parallel that of a Bohemian Waxwing.

Size

5.9 - 7.1 in/1.0 - 1.1 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The cedar waxwing prefers open woodlands, often along forest edges, overgrown fields, edges of swamps, and suburban yards. Its habitat is notably influenced by the availability of fruiting trees and shrubs.

Additional range

In winter, the cedar waxwing occupies a wider range, including towns, and any wooded or semi-open area where berries are abundant, such as orchards and streamsides.

Range Map

What do cedar waxwings like to eat?

Natural diet

The cedar waxwing primarily consumes berries and insects. It relies on a wide variety of berries, with key sources including juniper, dogwood, and wild cherries. Cedar waxwings also consume flowers and drink oozing sap. Insects form a significant part of their diet in the summer, including beetles, caterpillars, and ants. Young nestlings are initially fed mostly insects, transitioning to a higher proportion of berries after a few days.

Bird feeders

Cedar waxwings are not typically found at bird feeders as they predominantly consume natural food sources like berries and insects in their habitat. To attract cedar waxwings, offering native berry-producing plants in your garden may be more effective than standard birdseed.

What does a cedar waxwing sound like?

The cedar waxwing's vocalizations are complex, characterized by a thin lisp or "tseee" sound. This bird communicates using different call patterns such as falling and flat calls, resulting in various types, including buzz, hi, trill, and whistle. These nuanced sounds serve different purposes, ranging from alarm and mating calls to interacting with their group. Its songs, while less frequent, are melodious and distinctive.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulus

How to recognise a Bohemian waxwing?

General appearance

The Bohemian Waxwing is a crested bird that stands between 7 1/2 -8 1/2 inches (19-22 cm) tall, and is larger and grayer than the Cedar Waxwing. It has chestnut undertail coverts and displays a yellow and white pattern in its wings. Other discernable features include a short, square-tipped, rounded tail and black, gray, red, tan, white, and yellow coloration.

Male vs female

There is little difference visually in the physical appearance between males and females in the Bohemian Waxwing species, as both genders share similar traits in size and coloration. Variations, if any, marginal and not easily discernable in the field.

Juvenile

The juvenile Bohemian Waxwing is characterized by a streaky appearance and has different coloration of undertail coverts when compared to young Cedar waxwings. The size of a juvenile is roughly equivalent to a sparrow or robin, before growing to full adult size.

Size

7.5 - 9.1 in/1.2 - 3.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Bohemian waxwing primarily breeds in far northern forests around open areas, burnt lands or bogs, and in locations with taller trees over a brushy understory.

Additional range

In summer, it inhabits boreal forests and muskegs. During winter, its range expands to more populated areas, including towns with fruiting trees, and in wooded semi-open areas where food is plentiful.

Range Map

What do Bohemian waxwings like to eat?

Natural diet

The Bohemian waxwing primarily feeds on insects and berries. In the summer, its diet consists mostly of insects, especially those that fly. As the seasons change, it consumes more berries and fruits which become readily available. During winter, berries become a crucial part of its diet, especially those from mountain-ash and juniper plants. Additionally, the waxwing eats seeds from birch and other trees and drinks tree sap.

Bird feeders

The Bohemian waxwing is typically not a common visitor at bird feeders, as it primarily forages for natural food sources such as berries and insects. However, it might occasionally be attracted to bird feeders offering fruits like apples or other berries, particularly in the winter months when natural food is less abundant.

What does a Bohemian waxwing sound like?

The Bohemian Waxwing's vocalizations are distinctive, characterized by a high-pitched, lisping "seeee" call, which is harsher and more grating than the call of the Cedar Waxwing. The call pattern of this bird falls flat, producing a buzzing sound that alternates between high and trilling whistles. These sounds are eminent during their typical calls and songs which then provide a unique auditory identifier for the species.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Cedar Waxwing

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Bohemian Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

General appearance

Male vs female

Juvenile

Size

5.9 - 7.1 in/1.0 - 1.1 oz

There's more to learn about Cedar Waxwing

View full details

Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulus

General appearance

Male vs female

Juvenile

Size

7.5 - 9.1 in/1.2 - 3.0 oz

There's more to learn about Bohemian Waxwing

View full details

How to tell the Cedar Waxwing from the Bohemian Waxwing

Visual differences

Cedar Waxwings (6.5-8 inches) are smaller than Bohemian Waxwings (7.5-8.5 inches). Cedars exhibit a yellow belly and tail band, with a narrow dark face mask and a generally black, brown, and gray color palette. They lack the chestnut undertail coverts seen in Bohemians, which are grayer overall, with yellow and white on the wings. Both have crests, but the Bohemian's larger size and distinctive chestnut undertail make it identifiable, despite similar color ranges of black, gray, tan, and yellow among both species.

Key differences and behavior

Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings exhibit distinct behavioral differences. Cedar Waxwings favor open woodlands with readily available berries and are known for social, often clumsy behavior, including intoxication from fermented fruit. Bohemian Waxwings, larger at 7.5-8.5 inches compared to the Cedar's 6.5-8 inches, gravitate towards the northern boreal forests, expanding to towns in winter. Both engage in elaborate courtship; however, Cedars pass objects like fruit, while Bohemians display with calls and movements. Dietarily, Cedars rely heavily on berries year-round, shifting to insects in summer, while Bohemians consume more insects during summer, transitioning to berries like mountain-ash in winter. Nesting preferences differ slightly; Cedars use deciduous or coniferous trees often in open environments, while Bohemians prefer coniferous woods, placing nests on horizontal branches. Neither typically visit feeders, but garden trees might attract them with fruit supply.

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