adult

adult European distribution winter adults feeding

Identification

Even non-birdwatchers get excited about these distinctive, colourful and famously approachable birds. They usually offer ample opportunity to appreciate their sandy plumage with a full crest, black bib, yellow tips to the tail feathers and white markings in the wings. Even the little red waxy tips to the secondaries can often be seen very well.

Habitat

Breeds in coniferous woodland with deep undergrowth. Winters in gardens, parks, hawthorn thickets and hedges.

Behaviour

In winter they feed in tight flocks which take part in 'feeding frenzies'. The whole flock may spend a great deal of time at the top of a tall tree, calling loudly, then, as if at a signal, they will descend 'en masse' into a bush full of berries, feed like crazy for a few minutes then all suddenly return to their treetop vantage point. In those few minutes they can completely strip at least part of the bush, sometimes leaving another part of the same bush totally untouched.

Migration

A partial migrant with some birds travelling south to eastern and central Europe during most winters.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Waxwing is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Glasgow, Clyde 07/02/2010	Portadown, Armagh 08/03/2009	Sosnovka Park, St Petersburg, Russia (Europe) 23/01/2010	Rendlesham, Suffolk 08/12/2008	Rendlesham, Suffolk 18/12/2008
Grove Ferry, Kent 30/12/2008	Clitheroe, Lancs 17/11/2008	Attenborough, Notts 15/12/2008	Jasper, Alberta, Canada 03/12/2009	Jasper, Alberta, Canada 03/12/2009

 View all pictures of Waxwing

Waxwing breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Estonia
Finland
Norway
Russia
Sweden

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob10480.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Waxwing	Edit this link
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	Mum’s gone to Finland…	Wednesday 31st December 2008
	Julian Hughes takes a light-hearted look at shopping preferences amongst Nordic tourists.   read on
	Colour-ringed Waxwing sightings	Monday 22nd December 2008
	Helping to give your dots and records more direction and meaning.   read on
	BTO: Take the next step…and unlock the potential of your bird records	Thursday 27th November 2008
	Can you add Roving Records to the BTO's Bird Atlas?   read on
	Colour-ringed Waxwings	Thursday 9th February 2006
	A number of Waxwings have recently been colour-ringed in Sheffield; can you help to track their movements? Three have recently been seen in Stockport - where will they go next?   read on
	Colour-ringed Waxwings - A request for sightings	Wednesday 8th December 2004
	A number of Waxwings were colour-ringed during the recent influx and observers are urged to check flocks for these birds to help build up a picture of their movements.   read on
	Berry Gobblers on the Move	Thursday 16th January 2003
	Once again we are fortunate to be experiencing an invasion of Waxwings and numbers have been increasing during the past week. Find out more about the influx of this ever-popular visitor.

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