12 Bird Day Book 



CEDAR WAXWINGS 



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THE presence of certain horny, bright red, wax-like drops on the 

 tips of the feathers of the wings have won for these birds the 

 appropriate name of waxwings. They are small arboreal birds, some 

 six or eight inches in length, with long, pointed wings in which the 

 outer or tenth primary is so much reduced as to be almost impercep- 

 tible. The whole plumage is very soft, the prevailing color being 

 a soft fawn-color, changing to ashy on the rump and upper tail- 

 coverts, while the wings are slate. They feed on berries and fruits 

 of various kinds, as well as occasional insects which they capture on 

 the wing after the manner of flycatchers. Their nests, which are 

 rather bulky affairs, are placed in trees and composed of small twigs, 

 rootlets, etc.", lined with strips of bark, feathers and other soft mate- 

 rials. The eggs, usually three to five in number, are dull bluish 

 or purplish gray, spotted and dotted with dark brown, black and 

 purplish. 



"In clothing the cedar bird Mother Nature essayed her very 

 best and reached the limit of quiet elegance. As if aware of the 

 distinction conferred by its smooth delicately tinted plumage, the 

 waxwing has the air of a well-bred aristocrat, and comports itself 

 with a dignity that is very impressive. Why this beautiful creature 

 should be denied a voice is a mystery but, with the exception of the 

 faintest kind of a whistle and a few low notes, seldom heard, the 

 bird is silent. But its beauty and the good it does should insure its 

 careful protection. 



"Except during the nesting season, which is very late, the bird 

 is a wanderer, moving about the country in flocks and remaining a 

 shorter or longer time in a given locality according to the abundance 

 of food. The waxwing is a berry eater and its local name of 

 'cherry bird' indicates that it by no means disdains cultivated varie- 

 ties. Fortunately the bulk of the fruit it takes consists of wild 

 species, especially in winter, when cedar berries are greedily de- 

 voured. In the West it includes in its bill of fare mulberries and 

 pepper berries. While insects constitute only a comparatively small 

 percentage of its diet, those eaten include some very destructive 

 species such as scales and the dreaded elm beetle." — Farmers' Bul- 

 letin. 



