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cedar waxwing
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Cedar waxwing taken in Wingdale NY
The Cedar Waxwing is one of the most frugivorous birds in North America. Many aspects of its life, from its nomadic habits to its late breeding season, may be traced to its dependence upon fruit.
Description
top
Medium-sized songbird.
Gray-brown overall.
Crest on top of head.
Black mask edged in white.
Yellow tip to tail; may be orange.
Size: 14-17 cm (6-7 in)
Wingspan: 22-30 cm (9-12 in)
Weight: 32 g (1.13 ounces)
Sex Differences
Sexes nearly alike.
Sound
Calls are very high pitched "bzeee" notes.
topConservation Status
Populations increasing throughout range. You can help scientists learn more about this species by participating in the Celebrate Urban Birds! project.
Other Names
Jaseur d' Amérique (French)
Ampelis Americano, Picotera, Chinito (Spanish)
Cool Facts
The name "waxwing" comes from the waxy red appendages found in variable numbers on the tips of the secondaries of some birds. The exact function of these tips is not known, but they may serve a signaling function in mate selection.
Cedar Waxwings with orange instead of yellow tail tips began appearing in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada beginning in the 1960s. The orange color is the result of a red pigment picked up from the berries of an introduced species of honeysuckle. If a waxwing eats the berries while it is growing a tail feather, the tip of the feather will be orange.
The Cedar Waxwing is one of the few temperate dwelling birds that specializes in eating fruit. It can survive on fruit alone for several months. Unlike many birds that regurgitate seeds from fruit they eat, the Cedar Waxwing defecates fruit seeds.
The Cedar Waxwing is vulnerable to alcohol intoxication and death after eating fermented fruit. |
Alex99 has marked this note useful
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wow..you made me look up frugivorous....how unusual. Well I have learned something tonight. It pretty near devastates the fruit and then does something on it to make it not eatable by others, the spread the seed through the digestive system...wow..I feel like I have gone back to college:-) Not only that but Bill Gates needs to go back...Windows doesn't recognize frugivorous as a word, but it sure is out there...Thanks for all the info...and the cute image as well..
Bob
Perhaps one of my favourite birds to shoot(camera) when they are around.
I am not sure of the shutter speed Angela. I would think a faster one might have given you less chance of motion.
That said, I kind of like the softness of it.
Good notation..It will surely result in that outcome for everyone.
TFS
- Alex99
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3586 W: 143 N: 5690]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(18601) - [2008-05-04 4:29]
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Hi Angela.
A bit soft but very nice picture of a cute scene. I like pictured scene a lot. Fine bird among impressive twigs which create wonderful pattern is looked perfectly. Colours of the image are delicate and so pleasant to eyes. Composition of the image is blameless. My best regards and TFS.
Alexei.
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 473 W: 19 N: 797]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 479 W: 9 N: 624]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(3019)