Cedar Waxwing -- South Dakota Birds

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

A very nomadic bird, moving irregularly, being present in very large numbers on one occasion and being completely absent on another.  Very tame and sociable birds, rarely found alone.  Known for their "fruit passing" behavior, where a line of Waxwings on a branch will pass a piece of fruit back and forth between birds. Cedar Waxwings and Bohemian Waxwings sometimes flock together in the state in the winter.

Habitat: Deciduous woodlands in summer, fruit-bearing trees and shrubs in the winter.

Diet: Mostly berries and insects.  Majority of annual diet is berries and small fruits, especially juniper, dogwood, and wild cherries.  Will also eat flower blossoms and catkins.  Much of the summer diet includes insects.

Nesting: Irregular and late nester.

Breeding Map: Breeding bird survey map

Song: Cedar Waxwing Song, also Cedar Waxwing Call.

Migrations: Irregular migrant, difficult to predict.  Some may winter in the Southern U.S. down through Central America, and some may overwinter even in the harsh South Dakota winters.

Feeders: Will come to feeders for fruits and berries.

Similar Species: Bohemian Waxwing.  See Comparison Chart. 

Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Cedar Waxwing

2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Cedar Waxwing"

3) eNature.com: Cedar Waxwing

Photo Information:  January 2nd, 2004 -- Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls -- Terry Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Cedar Waxwing photos.

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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl

This page was last edited on 02/03/08