Photo: coniferconifer from japan / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Japanese Waxwing
Bombycilla japonica
Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica) is a member of the Bombycillidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 42.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Bombycillidae Waxwings
- Genus Bombycilla
- Species japonica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 42.3 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Bombycillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Japanese Waxwing is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Japanese Waxwing is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica) is a member of the Bombycillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL e Asia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 42.3 g, with a wing length of about 10.7 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 869,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Japanese Waxwing?
The Japanese Waxwing is a small bird that weighs around 42.3 g.
Where does the Japanese Waxwing live?
The Japanese Waxwing is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL e Asia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Japanese Waxwing belong to?
The Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica) belongs to the Bombycillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Japanese Waxwing eat?
The Japanese Waxwing is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Japanese Waxwing migrate?
The Japanese Waxwing is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Japanese Waxwing endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Japanese Waxwing make?
1 real field recording of the Japanese 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 Japanese Waxwing's range?
The Japanese Waxwing has a mapped global range of about 869,000 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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