Cedar Waxwings in the juniper tree!
Flocks of Cedar Waxwings recently took a pit stop in our juniper tree! These beautiful birds are easy to recognize by their sleek gray-to-brown plumage, pointed crest, and bandit-like mask. They also have colorful features that make them easy to identify: their bellies are pale yellow, and the tips of their tails are bright yellow. Adult waxwings have red tips on their secondary wing feathers, almost as if they were dipped in wax, creating a striking red patch when perched. Juveniles don’t develop these red tips until after their second year.
Cedar Waxwings are present in Wisconsin year-round, but their migration is nomadic and irregular, depending on the availability of food. They are considered short-distance migrants; most spend the winter south of their breeding range, but they can travel long distances in search of berries when necessary. Their breeding and wintering areas can shift from year to year, leading to unpredictable migration patterns.
In fall, these social birds forage in flocks, feeding on berries from trees and shrubs such as juniper, cedar, dogwood, and serviceberry. Juniper “berries” are one of their favorite snacks. Despite the name, juniper berries aren’t true berries, they’re actually tiny, berry-like cones with fleshy, fused scales. These berries are well known for giving gin its distinctive flavor, but they’re also used in cooking and herbal remedies.
Juniper trees, members of the cypress family, are fragrant evergreens that provide both food and shelter for wildlife. Their berries offer a valuable winter food source for birds and mammals such as bluebirds, cardinals, robins, rabbits, foxes, and coyotes, while the dense branches provide protection from snow and cold winds. The waxwings’ annual visit is always a sight to behold, with flashes of yellow and red among the branches. Next time you visit, take a moment to look up at this remarkable tree and see what wildlife you can spot!
Interested in similar topics? Explore more articles tagged with Birds, Winter Birds, Fall Migration, and Juniper Tree.
