Bohemian waxwing

When the snow arrives, the Bohemian waxwing shows up with it. These sleek, crested birds sweep into Manitoba in winter and strip a berry-laden crabapple tree in minutes. Bohemian waxwings are winter visitors that arrive from the north in noisy, nomadic flocks, descending on fruit trees such as mountain ash and crabapple. They are slightly larger and greyer than cedar waxwings, with rusty patches under the tail.

Slightly larger and greyer than the cedar waxwing, the Bohemian has white and yellow patches on the wings and a rusty-red patch under the tail. They travel in noisy flocks, following fruit from tree to tree through the cold months. A flock can strip a tree of berries in a short time before moving on, so finding them is often a matter of following the fruit.

Here are some of my favourite frames of the Bohemian waxwing, among the crabapples in late fall.

Bohemian waxwing perched among red crabapples against a blue sky, showing white and yellow wing markings

Photos

  • Bohemian waxwing with wings spread, landing in a crabapple tree full of fruit
  • Bohemian waxwing eating a red berry on a bare branch against a bright blue sky

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.