Waxwings (Bombycillidae)
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulus. Fruit — mountain-ash, crabapple and juniper — almost exclusively in winter.
Waxwings (Bombycillidae)Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- Scientific name
- Bombycilla garrulus
- Length
- 7.9–8.7 in
- Weight
- 1.9–2.3 oz
- Nest
- Cup on a conifer branch in the boreal forest
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 3–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 13–14 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Identification
- Grey-brown with a crest and a black mask
- Rusty undertail coverts
- White and yellow marks on the wing
Voice
A buzzy, trilled 'sirrrr' from swirling flocks.
Diet and feeding
Fruit — mountain-ash, crabapple and juniper — almost exclusively in winter.
What do bohemian waxwings eat? · Best feeder for bohemian waxwings
Bohemian Waxwings by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Summer breeder | July |
| Alberta | Summer breeder | July |
| British Columbia | Summer breeder | July |
| Colorado | Winter visitor | — |
| Connecticut | Winter visitor | — |
| Idaho | Winter visitor | — |
| Illinois | Winter visitor | — |
| Indiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Iowa | Winter visitor | — |
| Maine | Winter visitor | — |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | July |
| Massachusetts | Winter visitor | — |
| Michigan | Winter visitor | — |
| Minnesota | Winter visitor | — |
| Missouri | Winter visitor | — |
| Montana | Winter visitor | — |
| Nevada | Winter visitor | — |
| New Brunswick | Winter visitor | — |
| New Hampshire | Winter visitor | — |
| New Jersey | Winter visitor | — |
| New York | Winter visitor | — |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Winter visitor | — |
| North Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Northwest Territories | Summer breeder | July |
| Nova Scotia | Winter visitor | — |
| Nunavut | Winter visitor | — |
| Ohio | Winter visitor | — |
| Ontario | Winter visitor | — |
| Oregon | Winter visitor | — |
| Pennsylvania | Winter visitor | — |
| Prince Edward Island | Winter visitor | — |
| Quebec | Winter visitor | — |
| Rhode Island | Winter visitor | — |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | July |
| Utah | Winter visitor | — |
| Vermont | Winter visitor | — |
| Washington | Winter visitor | — |
| Wisconsin | Winter visitor | — |
| Wyoming | Winter visitor | — |
| Yukon | Summer breeder | July |
Frequently asked
What do bohemian waxwings eat?
Fruit — mountain-ash, crabapple and juniper — almost exclusively in winter. At feeders: raisins, chopped apple, fruiting crabapple and mountain-ash plantings.
How big is a Bohemian Waxwing?
7.9–8.7 in long and 1.9–2.3 oz.
Do bohemian waxwings use birdhouses?
No. Cup on a conifer branch in the boreal forest.
Sources
- Bohemian Waxwing — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bohemian Waxwing life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bohemian Waxwing — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.