Photo: Jason Quinn / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the Bombycillidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 31.6 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 cedrorum
Where it lives
Canada to Venezuela and Colombia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 31.6 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Bombycillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look nearly alike: both are silky tan-brown grading to gray with a black mask, a yellow belly wash, a yellow tail tip, and red waxy wingtips; the male's black chin patch averages larger and darker than the female's browner, less extensive one.
Juvenile appearance
Juveniles are grayer with coarse dusky streaking below, a fainter mask, a smaller crest, and lack the red waxy wingtips while still showing the yellow tail band.
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cedar Waxwing is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Cedar Waxwing is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) belongs to the Bombycillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA Canada to Venezuela and Colombia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 31.6 g, with a wing length of about 9.5 cm and a tail of around 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 7.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cedar Waxwing?
The Cedar Waxwing is a small bird that weighs around 31.6 g.
Where does the Cedar Waxwing live?
The Cedar Waxwing is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA Canada to Venezuela and Colombia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Cedar Waxwing belong to?
The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) belongs to the Bombycillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Cedar Waxwing eat?
The Cedar Waxwing is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Cedar Waxwing migrate?
The Cedar Waxwing is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Cedar 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 Cedar Waxwing make?
1 real field recording of the Cedar 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 Cedar Waxwing's range?
The Cedar Waxwing has a mapped global range of about 7.4 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.
How to Attract Cedar Waxwing to Your Yard
How to attract Cedar Waxwing to your yard — the habitat, water and plantings that bring them in (they aren't a seed-feeder bird), plus nesting help.
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.