"To Shine a Light on a Name"

Cedar Waxwing

        The Cedar Waxwing is a trim, crested bird, dressed in grayish-brown feathers, black mask, a yellow-tipped tail (which looks as though it were dipped in yellow paint), and tiny red wax-like droplets on the secondary wing feathers.

        Waxwings get their name from the waxy droplets on their wings that look like melted candle wax. If you are fortunate to see a Cedar Waxwing, look for the small red droplets of color on the wings.
   
        The crest on the head is not only for looks, it is used to express emotion. if the crest is pointed backwards, it is composed, unperturbed.  When the crest is erect, it is irritated, disturbed.  If the crest is pulled flat, it is frightened. Almost like my honey's crest.

        The Cedar Waxwing breeds as far north as Alaska, Canada, and some even in northern Utah.  Its winter range is in Mexico and South America, wherever there is food.  Southern Utah lies in between, and some will pass through.  The Cedar Waxing's primary diet consists of berries, flower petals and insects.  In Summer they dine on elm leaf beetles, weevils, carpenter ants, sawfly larvae, flies, cicadas, scale insects, and caterpillars.  Some years we see Waxwings; some years we don't. It depends on Utah's food supply. When food is plenty, the waxwings are known to gorge themselves until they are unable to fly. They are also known to sit in a row on a berry bush and pass a berry or insect between one another, back and forth until it is eaten. If you spy a Cedar Waxwing in our area, give me a call: 435 673-0996. 

        This wonderfully interesting bird was drawn by artist, Brenda Rusnell [webmaster: though I have to apologize because I scanned it from newspaper].  Thanks, Brenda, for sharing your time, talent and Cedar Waxwing with us.