Familiar Studies of Wild Birds 



yellow band terminating the tail, and the small 

 red globular structures on the wings (and 

 very rarely on the tail ) , from which this species 

 derives its name. 



Several weeks later, these migrating flocks 

 have separated into pairs, but it is often 

 well along in the season before the birds 

 build their nests, for the berries and fruit on 

 which the young thrive ripen late. During 

 the summer the food of the wax-wings consists 

 of fruit, cherries, and all kinds of wild berries. 

 After the young are old enough to be left 

 alone, both adults go off together in their 

 search for food, often making trips of several 

 miles. Whether in the air or at rest, they have 

 the habit of uttering, continually, low calls, that 

 are expressive of companionability. They 

 are seldom absent more than ten or fifteen 

 minutes at a time, and when they are heard 

 returning, the young set up a complementary 

 chorus; but the latter always remain discreet- 



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