Photo: Tatiana Bulyonkova from Novosibirsk, Russia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulus
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is a member of the Bombycillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 54.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Bombycillidae Waxwings
- Genus Bombycilla
- Species garrulus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 54.4 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Bombycillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bohemian Waxwing is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Bohemian Waxwing is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is a species of bird in the Bombycillidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA n.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 54.4 g, with a wing length of about 11.6 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 12.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bohemian Waxwing?
The Bohemian Waxwing is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 54.4 g.
Where does the Bohemian Waxwing live?
The Bohemian Waxwing is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA n, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Bohemian Waxwing belong to?
The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) belongs to the Bombycillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Bohemian Waxwing eat?
The Bohemian Waxwing is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Bohemian Waxwing migrate?
The Bohemian Waxwing is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Bohemian Waxwing endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Bohemian Waxwing make?
1 real field recording of the Bohemian Waxwing — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bohemian Waxwing's range?
The Bohemian Waxwing has a mapped global range of about 12.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Cedar Waxwing vs Bohemian Waxwing: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Cedar Waxwing from a Bohemian Waxwing — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.