312: Trees, Stars, and Birds 



The cedar waxwing. Although cedar waxwings are 

 not common, you may run across a whole flock of them 

 at any season of the year except when they are nesting. 

 They nest later than most birds. In Highland Park, 

 Rochester, New York, 250 cedar waxwings were counted 

 at one time in the barberry bushes and surrounding trees. 

 Flocks of these birds commonly contain between ten 

 and thirty birds. 



Waxwings are about the size of bluebirds. Their 

 upper parts and breast are rich grayish brown, the belly 

 is yellowish, and the tail has a yellow band at the end. 

 They have conspicuous crests which they seem to use in 

 expressing emotion. 



The remarkable tips of some of the feathers of the wing, 

 resembling sealing wax, may be seen when a person is 

 close to a mature waxwing. No use is known for these 

 waxlike tips. The name " cedar bird " relates to their 

 habit of eating berries of the red cedar. They eat also 

 cherries and a great variety of berries, wild and culti- 

 vated, besides cankerworms and other destructive insects. 



Waxwings are usually tame and unsuspicious. Their 

 lisping notes can be heard only a short distance and would 

 not attract the attention of any one except a student of 

 birds. When the birds can be plainly seen, they are 

 much admired. 



