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20

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) German name(s): "Seidenschwanz" Size: 19-23 cm; wing span 32-35.5 cm Body mass: 40-75 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.34-0.35

Europe: Family Group 20 Family Group 20 Table Bohemian Waxwing Eurasian Nuthatch Western Rock Nuthatch Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Bohemian Waxwings are about Starling-sized birds with a predominantly rufous head and otherwise brownish-grey plumage. They have a prominent rufous to greyish-rufous crest, contrasting black eyebrows, black throat, small white markings under the eyes and a light-grey bill. The front, from chest to undertail coverts, is grey, with a light pinkish/rufous tinge. The back, including the upperwings, is a darker shade of grey. The tail is dark-grey. The dark-grey flight feathers have conspicuous white bars and a red, waxy patch that gives them their name. The tips of both the flight feathers and the tail are bright-yellow. The irises are dark-brown, the legs and feet are dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Bohemian Waxwing at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Bohemian Waxwing is available HERE . There are 3 races of Bohemian Waxwings, which together populate wide swaths of Europe, Asia and North America. They are found from central Europe, via the Russian tundra towards the Pacific coastline of Russia, China and Japan. Across the Bering Sea, they are also found in southern Alaska, southern Canada and the northern and mid-western US (for details see a field guide). They are migratory, breeding in the northern parts of their range and spending the winters farther South. Within that overall range, Bohemian Waxwings, nominate race "garrulus", are found as winter visitors in northern, central and parts of western Europe (including the British Isles), to the West of the Ural mountains. They are permanent residents in the highlands of northern Scandinavia. Bohemian Waxwings have a preference for coniferous forest/woodland, usually near water.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "garrulus" D. Wilczynska reports spotting Bohemian Waxwings, nominate race "garrulus", at Biebrza National Park, Poland, in January 2009. I. Chisnall used to find flocks of Bohemian Waxwings, race "garrulus", in the past at Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. More recently an overwintering flock was found at Hessle, Yorkshire, England, in March 2020.

Photos

Race "garrulus"

ADULT

PAIR

Pair of Bohemian Waxwings in a tree with Mistletoe in it (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, January 2009]

Close-up full-frontal view of a Bohemian Waxwing scooping up water (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Hessle, Yorkshire, England, March 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Bohemian Waxwing looking at the observer (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Hessle, Yorkshire, England, March 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Bohemian Waxwing (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Hessle, Yorkshire, England, March 2020]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Bohemian Waxwing (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Hessle, Yorkshire, England, March 2020]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a Bohemian Waxwing (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Hessle, Yorkshire, England, March 2020]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Bohemian Waxwing having a drink of water; note the spectacular display of colours on both wings and tail
(photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Hessle, Yorkshire, England, March 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Bohemian Waxwing launching itself into the air (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Hessle, Yorkshire, England, March 2020]

Behaviour

I. Chisnall reports that the occurrence of overwintering flocks of Bohemian Waxwings, especially large-scale irruptive events, in central England, have become fewer over the decades and the size of the flocks has diminished.

Food, Diet

During the breeding season, Bohemian Waxwinges feed mainly on insects, but in winter they specialize in taking various berries. One of the berries they feed on is that of the Mistletoe. Fruit is passed through the digestive system with live seeds, making Bohemian Waxwings propagators of Mistletoe.

Pair of Bohemian Waxwings in a tree with Mistletoe; they feed on the berries, thereby propagating Mistletoe
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, January 2009]

Close-up lateral view of a Bohemian Waxwing scooping up water (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Hessle, Yorkshire, England, March 2020]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.