There are three species of waxwings in the world, lucky us, we get to see two of them. Cedar Waxwing and, more so during the fall and winter, the Bohemian Waxwing. They love fruits, no matter if it’s in your backyard or in the wild. During fall and winter, the Bohemian Waxwings will find it, if it’s out there. As for their name; “bohemian” describes their wandering ways in search of food. The availability of which might change from year to year. They have red waxy wing tips and yellow on other wings, it’s the reason they are called waxwings. Waxy tips are a result of their diet, carotenoid pigments found in the fruit waxwings eat. From my firsthand experience of eating lots of fruits, this does not work on humans. Unless it ends up in our ears? In case you’re wondering, we don’t.
The waxwings in the picture were five of a 250 plus strong ear-full, a group of waxwing is called “ear-full” and a “museum” of waxwings. I found them enjoying juniper berries, as well as some kinnikinnick berries. All while being harassed by two brave Townend’s Solitaires. With a kilometer and half left for my hike one afternoon, I came across them on a south facing section of the trail. With little to no snow, the fruits were exposed for the waxwing to consume. Spent over half an hour surrounded by them and their high-pitched trills.
