554 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



Family 59. BOMBYClLLID.'l^:. Waxwings. 



Birds of this family may be recognized at a glance 

 by the prevailing oliVe plumage, the strongly crested 

 head, and the dark tail, every feather of which is tipped 

 with bright yellow. 



We have but two species, readily separated as follows: 

 A. Larger, wing over four inches with a conspicuous white 



bar; under tail-coverts rich chestnut. Bohemian 



Waxwing. No. 251. 

 A A. Smaller, wing less than four inches and without 



any white; under tail-coverts white or yellowish. Fig. 129. Head and 



Cedar-bird. No. 252. biiiofCedarbirds. 



251. Bohemian Waxwing. Bomby cilia garrula (Linn.). (618) 



Synonyms: Northern Waxwing, Big Waxwing, Bohemian Chatterer. — Lanius garrulus, 

 Linn., 1758. — Ampelis garrulus Linn., 1766, and most authors. — Bombyoilla garrula, 

 Vieill., 1817, Bonap., Aud., Nuttall. 



Resembles a very large Cedar-bird, but in addition to most of the 

 peculiarities of those birds the Bohemian Waxwing has always two or more 

 conspicuous white patches on the wings and often also bright 3'ellow tips 

 on some wing-feathei'S. 



Distribution. — Northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. In North 

 America south in winter irregularly to Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kansas, 

 southern Colorado and northern California. Breeds north of the United 

 States. 



The Bohemian Waxwing is an irregular winter visitor in Michigan, 

 coming from the far north in flocks of varying size and most often appearing 

 in the latter part of the winter. So far as we can learn it has never been 

 abundant, but small flocks have been recorded here and there at con- 

 siderable intervals, and single specimens are found in local collections in 

 various parts of the state. No doubt the common Cedar-bird is often 

 mistaken for this species, the impression being quite general among careless 

 observers that the Cedar-bird is not found in Michigan in winter and that 

 any waxwing seen must be the Bohemian. 



We have a specimen in the College collection taken on the College campus 

 previous to 1894, but the exact date not obtainable. Very likely it was 

 taken in the winter of 1879-80, when this species appeared in some numbers 

 in most of the northern states, including New York, Michigan, Illinois 

 and Indiana. In Illinois a specimen was taken by Prof. S. A. Forbes (Dec. 

 l-S, 1879) at Villa Ridge, Pulaski county, in about latitude 37 degrees, the 

 most southern record for the United States. Mr. Hazelwood includes it 

 in his Port Huron list (manuscript, 1904), but calls it very rare. Major 

 A. H. Boies found it on Neebish Island, in the St. Mary's River, and we 

 have a specimen taken there by him, November 15, 1896. Covert records 

 the capture of two males and a female at Ann Arbor on December 12, 

 1869. Judge Steere states that it occurs occasionally at Sault Ste. Marie 

 in winter, the last date given being 1885. It occurs in most of the older 



