WAXWINGS 421 



Atlantic States, but occurs with some frequency in the northern Mis- 

 sissippi Valley. In notes and habits it is said to resemble its small 

 cousin, the Cedar Waxwing. 



1909. ANDERSON, R. M., Auk, XXVI, 10-12 (nesting). 



619. Bombycilla cedrorum Vieill. CEDAR WAXWING. (Fig. 67.) 

 Ads. Forehead, chin, and a line through the eye velvety black; a conspicu- 

 ous crest; upperparts rich grayish brown; upper tail-coverts, wings, and tail 

 gray; secondaries often, tail rarely, with small, red, seed-shaped, sealing- 

 wax-like tips ; tail with a yellow band at its end ; breast like the back, chang- 

 ing gradually into yellowish on the belly; under tail-coverts white. The 

 absence of the red tips is doubtless an indication of immaturity. The nest- 

 ling is streaked below. L., 7'19; W., 370; T., 2'37; B. from N., "26. 



Range. N. A. Breeds in Canadian, Transition, and Upper Austral 

 zones from cen. B. C., cen. Alberta, s. Keewatin, n. Ont., nw. Que., and 

 Cape Breton Is. s. to s. Ore., n. N. M., Kans., n. Ark., and N. C.; winters 

 throughout nearly all of the U. S. and s. to Cuba, Mex., and Panama; acci- 

 dental in the Bahamas, Bermuda, Jamaica, and British Isles. 



Washington, very common P. R., less so in winter. Ossining, common 

 P. R. Cambridge, not common P. R., common S. R., abundant T. V. in 

 spring, Feb. 1-Apl. 25. N. Ohio, irregularly common in summer. Glen 

 Ellyn, S. R., Jan. 21-Sept. 24; occasional W. V. SE. Minn., common S. R., 

 Feb. 25-Sept. 28. 



Nest, bulky, of strips of bark, leaves, grasses, twigs, rootlets, moss and 

 sometimes mud, lined with finer materials of the same nature, often in fruit 

 or shade trees, 5-20 feet up. Eggs, 3-5, pale bluish gray or putty color, dis- 

 tinctly and obscurely spotted with black or umber, "88 x "62. Date, Weaver- 

 ville, N. C., May 30; Cambridge, June 6; se. Minn., June 10. 



When the spring migration is over and the home birds have gone 

 to nest-building, small flocks of Goldfinches and Waxwings two 

 peculiarly gentle, attractive birds may still be "seen wandering about 

 the country. The squads of Cedar-birds fly evenly, on a level with the 

 fcrco-tops, in close ranks, often of five, seven, or nine. Frequently, 

 when under full headway, they suddenly wheel and dive down to an 

 apple tree for a meal of canker-worms. 



In following the beautiful Waxwings about one listens in vain for 

 a song, but soon comes to relish their two peculiar calls a hushed 

 whistle and the subdued call Thoreau describes as their "beady note," 

 a succession of short notes strung together for they both seem to 

 harmonize with the quiet reserve of the delicately tinted birds. 



In July, when the wandering flocks are no longer seen, a walk 

 through the neighboring orchards may show where both tardy build- 

 ers have at last gone to nesting, and few bird homes afford pictures of 

 such human tenderness and devotion. If there is an evergreen in the 

 vicinity, the Cedar-bird mounts guard upon its tip, but occasionally 

 relieves the monotony of his watch by flying up in the air for light 

 luncheons of passing insects. 



The strong individuality of the Waxwings makes them interesting 

 birds to the field student. The use of their crests in expressing emotion, 

 and the protective attitudes they assume when watched at their nests, 

 throw much light upon bird psychology. 



To the bird-lover, however, the Cedar-birds have their own attrac- 



