Cedar waxwing

Cedar waxwing
Temporal range: Pleistocene–present
↓
Cedar waxwing in Virginia, USA
Song
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Bombycillidae
Genus: Bombycilla
Species:
B. cedrorum
Binomial name
Bombycilla cedrorum
Vieillot, 1808
Cedar waxwing range
  Breeding range
  Year-round range
  Wintering range
Synonyms
  • Ampelis cedrorum

The cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the family Bombycillidae or waxwing family of passerine birds. It is a medium-sized bird that is mainly brown, gray, and yellow. Some of the wing feathers have red tips, the resemblance of which to sealing wax gives these birds their common name. It is a native of North and Central America, breeding in open wooded areas in southern Canada and wintering in the southern half of the United States, Central America, and the far northwest of South America. Its diet includes cedar cones, fruit, holly berries, and insects.[2] The cedar waxwing is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]

The genus name Bombycilla comes from the Ancient Greek bombux, "silk" and the Modern Latin cilla, "tail";[3] this is a direct translation of the German Seidenschwanz, "silk-tail", and refers to the silky-soft plumage of these birds.[4] The specific cedrorum is Latin for "of the cedars".[3]

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2021). "Bombycilla cedrorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22708153A137475540. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22708153A137475540.en. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  2. ^ Tekiela, Stan. Birds of Minnesota Field Guide. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications, Inc., 2004. Book.
  3. ^ a b Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 74, 96. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  4. ^ Holloway, Joel Ellis (2003). Dictionary of Birds of the United States: Scientific and Common Names. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 39. ISBN 0-88192-600-0.