Bohemian Waxwing
Nummy Island, Stone Harbor, NJ. 02/10/04
by Karl Lukens
Cedar Waxwing
by A & J Binns
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Bohemian Waxwings vs. Cedar Waxwings
With the influx of Bohemian waxwings this winter here are a few identification pointers to consider.
Bohemian Waxwing Nummy Island, Stone Harbor, NJ. 02/10/04 by Karl Lukens |
Cedar Waxwing by A & J Binns |
|
Characteristic |
Bohemian
Waxwing |
Cedar Waxwing |
|
Body coloration (adult) |
Cold, uniformally gray back chest and belly |
Warm, rich brown on back and chest, belly yellowish |
|
Undertail Coverts |
Rufous |
White |
|
Wings –folded |
White patch at base of primaries and on secondaries; yellow and white V-angles on primary tips; red appendages on secondaries |
Lacks the white and yellow, but has the red appendages on secondaries |
|
Wings – in flight |
Conspicuous white patch at base of primaries and trailing edge of secondaries |
No white markings, wing is plain gray |
|
Wings – Tertials |
No white along inner edge of tertials |
Adult and 1st year – White inner edge of tertials |
|
Face |
Rufous tinge to check and forehead, contrasting with body. Little to no white on forehead |
Warm brown color, same as breast and back. Thin white line along top of black mask from eye to forehead |
|
Body Coloration (juvenile) |
Streaky, plain with rufous undertail coverts; white and yellow spots in wings, no bib (clear throat), yellow tip to tail |
Streaky, plain with no markings, white undertail coverts, except yellow tip to tail, no bib (clear throat) |
|
Body Coloration (1st yr) |
Same as adult, pale yellow spots in wings, lacks red waxy appendages (secondary wing tips); lacks white tips to inner webs of primaries |
Same as adult, lacks red waxy appendages (secondary wing tips) |
|
Length (approximate) |
8.25 inches |
7.25 inches |
|
Wing Length |
14.5 inches |
12 inches |
|
Weight (approximate |
2 ounces |
1+ ounces |
|
Overall Appearance |
Chunky |
Sleek |
|
Females (outwardly similar) |
Narrower terminal tail band and often blurred lower edge to bib |
Narrower terminal tail band and smaller blurred bib |
|
Bib Color (adult bird in hand) |
Male and female have a black bib |
Males have a black bid; females have a brown bib |
|
Call |
High pitched buzzy trill (rougher than cedar) |
“seeee” call, high pitched plaintive whistle; “bzee” call, buzzy trill |
When seen in a mixed flock, identification is rather straight forward based on body size and coloration. The Bohemian is a larger, stocker bird. When seen well and in good light, undertail coverts and wing spots are clear diagnostic features. In flight the Bohemian Waxwing looks very much like a starling.
The name Waxwing comes from the bright red coloring of the bare shafts (appendages) on the tips of the secondaries which resembles sealing wax. Bohemian more than likely comes from the fact that it is nomadic (care free) like the gypsies of Europe and Cedar (and cedrorum) from the evergreen tree whose berries it often eats. Bombycilla comes from the Latin and Greek meaning silky tail, and garrulous means chattering.
References:
DVOC Main Page > Ornithological Studies > Waxwings