BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. 307 



185. Ampelis cedrorum (Vieill.). 

 Cedar Waxwing. Cedarbird. Cherrybird. 



Abundant transient visitor in early spring and rather common summer resident ; irregularly 

 common in winter. 



NESTING DATES. 



June 6 — 25. 



The seasonal movements of the Cedarbird are somewhat erratic and not as 

 yet fully understood. There is apparently a double migration northward, the first 

 flight — which is much the heavier of the two — reaching eastern Massachusetts 

 anywhere between the last of January and the first of March. The birds 

 which compose it appear suddenly, often in very large flocks, and make them- 

 selves peculiarly conspicuous by roaming restlessly over the country, frequently 

 visiting densely populated localities to feast on the berries of the mountain ash, 

 the English hawthorn, Parkman's apple and other cultivated trees. They also 

 eat asparagus berries, and they are especially fond of the berries of the red cedar 

 or Virginia juniper. They disappear almost completely before the end of April, 

 presumably going further north to breed, although this has never been definitely 

 established. 



The second flight, which arrives in May, is believed to be made up chiefly, 

 if not wholly, of the birds which pass the summer with us. They appear in pairs 

 or in small, scattered flocks which are seen almost everywhere but most fre- 

 quently in apple orchards. 



The return migration in autumn is not well marked, but it apparently takes 

 place in August and September, when Cedarbirds are rather common for a few 

 weeks, especially in localities where rum cherry trees abound. But few are seen 

 in October, and almost none in November. This scarcity usually continues 

 through the earlier part of the winter, but when there is a plentiful supply of 

 food the birds sometimes appear rather numerously in December and remain 

 until spring. 



The Cambridge Region has always been a favorite resort of Cedar Wa.x- 

 wings and these birds continue to visit us in considerable numbers. In late 

 winter and early spring they frequent the hilly pastures of Arlington, Belmont 

 and Waltham, to feed on the berries of the barberry and red cedar, also appear- 

 ing fearlessly and by no means infrequently in our city gardens, to which they 



