Waxwing WESTERN BIRDS 



The prevailing color is rich fawn which becomes yellow- 

 ish on the flanks; the wing quills and tail are blackish, 

 the latter banded with deep yellow. The birds have a 

 long pointed crest, black chins and black streaks that pass 

 through the eyes and add to their beauty. But the thing 

 that has given them the name is the red wax-like append- 

 ages on the wings, and rarely, also, the tail. When closed 

 these red tips show conspicuously near the end of the 

 wing. Sometimes they are lacking, which is thought to 

 indicate immaturity, although the young birds have been 

 known to have them. The very young have streaked 

 breasts. 



In its eastern range it is a fairly common resident, 

 building its nest in orchards and shade trees, sometimes 

 as high as fifty feet. The nest is a bulky affair, made of 

 string (of which the birds seem very fond), hair, twigs, 

 leaves, fibers, rootlets, and various trash. 



The female does the building and brooding, although 

 the male is solicitous and accompanies her on her build- 

 ing expeditions, and sometimes making a pretense of 

 helping. The young are exemplary little beauties, mod- 

 est in coloring like their parents, and like them with 

 manners above reproach. Who ever heard of a Cedar 

 Waxwing losing his, or her, temper, showing any haste 

 — save in flight — or in any way ruffling, or soiling, its 

 plumage? 



The one thing which the bird lacks is a voice. The 

 only note I have ever heard, and I find no record of a 

 song, is a soft, peevish sighing, or squealing, sound which 

 reminds me of the wind blowing through the trees. It 

 is a monotonous note which is reiterated so persistently 

 by the flock of birds that one is tempted to wish that 

 these beauties were entirely voiceless. This sighing note, 

 or "hushed whistle," is quite out of keeping with the 

 bird's erect, soldier-like carriage. 



In southern California the Waxwings are winter 

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