About This Animal
SIZE: 7.25 inches
RANGE: Widespread over North America
HABITAT: Open woodlands, orchards and park-like settings
DIET: Mainly fruits and berries
ON EXHIBIT: Cove Forest in River Journey
Sexes are similar with mostly greenish -brown plumage with a obvious crest and a black mask and a yellow band at the end of their tail. They are called “waxwings” because of the waxy red tips on their secondary feathers.
This gregarious species is a regular spring, fall and winter visitor to the Aquarium plaza where flocks feed enthusiastically on holly and other fruiting trees.
Even though Cedar Waxwings are a fairly common species in the wild they are quite rare in captivity.