Cedar Waxwings

Out for a walk with the dogs today, I saw robin-sized grey birds with subtle yellow bellies flitting from branch to branch in a crabapple tree, eating the shriveled fruit. As I looked closer at them, I saw that they had crests!

From Birds of Pennsylvania, Dzung Tran

Birds of Pennsylvania

Cedar waxwings!

I’ve only ever seen these strikingly beautiful birds once before, for just a moment. I’m grateful for a second look. In a way, it’s strange that I haven’t seen them more often, because according to Birds of North America, cedar waxwings live in Colorado foothills and up all year round.

Even better news is that, with the planting of fruit and ornamental trees, and the reduction of pesticides, cedar waxwings are on the increase. Yippee!

I used to carry my camera with me every time I took the dogs for a walk. I got a lot of great photos that way, and I would have gotten some nice ones today. But somehow, I got out of the habit. I therefore had to download these magnificent photos from the internet.

From Adventures in Mothland, David Beadle

Adventures in Mothland

Maybe I’ll start hauling my camera along again…

Amy Law

January 18, 2018

Colorado Mileposts

11 responses to “Cedar Waxwings”

Tails Around the Ranch

January 18, 2018

Wow, they really are striking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any around my hood. I just read the Denver Post article about the Snowy Owls hanging out a Stanley Lake. That’s yet another reason to consider carrying a camera around…just in case. 🦉

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Tracy Abell

January 18, 2018

Lucky you, Amy! I haven’t seen them in Colorado, either. We used to get them in Anchorage when they’d fly around, drunk off fermented berries. They’re beautiful.

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TZ

January 18, 2018

That’s so cool!

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keh

June 13, 2018

we have a couple that just showed up at our house to hang out in our backyard pond. highlands ranch.

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1. coloradogeography
  
  June 13, 2018
  
  Ooooh. Lucky you! I’ve only ever seen them the one time. One of my other followers says she used to see them a lot in Alaska.
  
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Anne S.

November 7, 2019

Today is the first time in 25 years to see waxwings at my feeder. I just saw 4-5 Waxwings drinking water from a backyard dish in Fort Collins – beautiful sight!

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1. Amy Law
  
  November 7, 2019
  
  Aren’t they though? When I was going to school at CSU, there used to be a lot of them around the dorms, eating fermented pyracantha berries.
  
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BARBARA MCGOVERN

December 15, 2019

While counting for Feeder Watch, I saw many Robins flying all over my yard. There were so many, I could not count them all. My estimate is probably 40 plus. They were just flitting around & flying into one of my pine trees. It seemed they were chasing each other. Then, looking closer at the pine, I saw some different birds. They were Cedar Waxwings. They were displacing each other in the tree. I could only count a few but once again, estimate there were 10 or more. Since it is December it surprised me to see so many Robins & Waxwings traveling with them. Is this normal or did I see something unusual? This is the only the second time I have seen Waxwings in Colorado & I watch for birds a lot.

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1. Amy Law
  
  December 15, 2019
  
  Barbara —
  How cool that you got to see some cedar waxwings at your feeder! Yay Feeder Watch!
  My answer is a little passive-aggressive. Like you, I have only seen these birds the one time I blogged about it, and I too watch birds a lot. On the other hand, when I was going to school in Fort Collins lo these many years ago, the ornithology professor would go out every spring break to collect cedar waxwings that had eaten too many fermented berries and flown into windows of the dormitories (that would be an FUI, “flying under the influence”), killing themselves. So they have been reasonably common for a long time.
  That matches with what Birds of North America says. In Colorado, there does seem to be a year-round population. What’s more, with ornamental fruit tree and shrub plantings, cedar waxwings are increasing, so hopefully we’ll see more in the future.
  I wonder if we are perhaps seeing them more often than we realize, but just not recognizing them. I mean, robins are nice birds, but I don’t usually double check my identification of them unless something unusual is happening.
  So that’s my theory. I’ve been trying to be more aware of robin-ish birds in the hope of seeing more unusual birds like cedar waxwings. I’m sure you’ll read about it in my blog if I succeed!
  Happy Birding!
  Amy
  
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PAUL HIATT

June 6, 2021

I have a mulberry tree just outside my front window. I didn’t know what species they were; I called them bandit cardinals. I looked them up and found cedar waxwing. Amazing little birds. I live in SE Colorado, Pueblo to be exact. I have been in my home for almost 5 yrs. Every spring when the mulberry fruits, I have the privilege to see a slew of finches, sparrows and robins.

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1. Amy Law
  
  June 6, 2021
  
  Awesome! Cedar waxwings are such beautiful, sleek birds that I am in awe every time I see them.
  
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