Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Bohemian Waxwing vs Cedar Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing • Wikimedia Commons
Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing • Wikimedia Commons
Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing • Wikimedia Commons
Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing • Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing • Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing • Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing • Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing • Wikimedia Commons
Bohemian Waxwing vs Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus vs Bombycilla cedrorum): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The two waxwings, often in the same winter flock. Three rules:
- Undertail: rusty = Bohemian; white = Cedar.
- Size and tone: bigger and grayer = Bohemian; smaller and browner = Cedar.
- Wing marks: white-and-yellow = Bohemian; red waxy tips = Cedar.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The northern irruptive waxwing and the familiar one, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Bohemian Waxwing | Cedar Waxwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombycilla garrulus | Bombycilla cedrorum |
| Length KEY | 8.3 in (21 cm) | 7.2 in (18.5 cm) |
| Wingspan | 14.6 in (37 cm) | 12.2 in (31 cm) |
| Weight | 2.0 oz (56 g) | 1.1 oz (32 g) |
| Overall Shape | A bigger, grayer waxwing of the far north — the Cedar Waxwing’s wilder cousin | A silky, crested fruit-specialist with a black mask and a yellow-tipped tail |
| Male Plumage KEY | Gray-brown body, black mask and bib, rusty undertail coverts, yellow tail band, white and yellow wing marks (sexes alike) | Silky brown-gray, black mask, pale yellow belly, white undertail, red waxy wing tips (sexes alike) |
| Female Plumage | Identical to the male, slightly duller | Identical to the male, slightly duller |
| Bill Shape | Short, black, slightly hooked | Short, black, slightly hooked |
| Tail | Gray with a yellow terminal band | Gray with a bright yellow terminal band |
| Core Range KEY | Breeds in northern boreal forest; irrupts south into the northern U.S. in winter | Breeds across the northern U.S. and Canada; wanders the whole continent in winter |
| Migration | Irruptive — huge flocks descend on fruit trees in some winters | Nomadic — follows fruit crops in tight flocks |
| Feeder Presence | Visits yards only for fruit — mountain ash, crabapple, buckthorn | Fruit trees only — plant crabapple, serviceberry, dogwood and cedar |
| Favorite Foods | Fruit, almost entirely in winter; insects in summer | Fruit (cedar berries, crabapples, honeysuckle), insects in summer |
| Song KEY | No true song; high, buzzy trills | No true song; constant thin calls |
| Flight Call | A rough, low-pitched buzzy trill — lower than the Cedar Waxwing’s | A high, thin, lisping “bzeee” |
| Population Trend | Stable; winter numbers in the U.S. vary wildly by berry crop | Stable; one of the few birds that can live on fruit alone |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Bohemian Waxwing — Male
Bombycilla garrulus
- Bigger and grayer than a Cedar Waxwing, rusty undertail.
- White and yellow wing marks flash in flocks.
- Winter nomad — follows the berry crop.
Cedar Waxwing — Male
Bombycilla cedrorum
- Silky plumage, black mask, red waxy wing tips.
- High lisping “bzeee” calls overhead.
- Flocks descend on ripe fruit trees.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Bohemian Waxwing — Female
Bombycilla garrulus
- Nearly identical to the male.
- Flocks can strip a mountain ash in an hour.
- Breeds in remote northern spruce.
Cedar Waxwing — Female
Bombycilla cedrorum
- Identical to the male.
- Nests late, timed to summer fruit.
- Courting pairs pass a berry back and forth.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Bohemian Waxwing | Cedar Waxwing |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 8.3 in, plump | 7.2 in, sleek |
| Undertail Coverts | Rusty | White |
| Wing Marks | White and yellow spots and bars | Red waxy tips, yellow edging |
| Body Tone | Gray-brown | Warm silky brown with yellow belly |
| Crest | Full, swept back | Sleeker, pointed |
| Occurrence | Northern breeder, winter irruptive | Widespread breeder, nomadic |
| Call | Rough, low buzzy trill | Very high, thin lisping “bzeee” |
Song & Call Comparison
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulus
Calls: a rough, low-pitched buzzy trill, given constantly in flocks.
Behavior: passes berries beak-to-beak down a perched row.
Bohemian Waxwing voice • Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Calls: a very high, thin, lisping bzeee — often heard before the flock is seen.
Behavior: whole flocks call in unison while feeding.
Cedar Waxwing voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Bohemian Waxwing breeds in the far northern boreal forest and irrupts into the northern states in winters when the berry crop fails — hundreds descending on fruit trees.
The Cedar Waxwing breeds across the northern half of the country and wanders the whole continent in tight nomadic flocks, year-round somewhere near you.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Bohemian Waxwing: mountain ash, crabapple and buckthorn in northern winter yards.
- Cedar Waxwing: the same fruit trees plus serviceberry, dogwood and hawthorn, any season.
- Neither eats seed — plant fruit, not feeders, for waxwings.
- Water: moving water and birdbaths attract flocks of both.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Bohemian Waxwings are nomad armies — a tree full of gray silk one hour, gone the next.
Cedar Waxwings are polite flockers — passing berries beak-to-beak down a row and calling thin lisps constantly.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Undertail. Rusty = Bohemian; white = Cedar.
- Size. Bigger, plumper = Bohemian; smaller = Cedar.
- Color. Gray = Bohemian; warm brown + yellow belly = Cedar.
- Wings. White-yellow marks = Bohemian; red tips = Cedar.
- Call. Low rough trill = Bohemian; high thin lisp = Cedar.
- Location. Far-north winter flock = likely Bohemian; anywhere = Cedar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Bohemian from a Cedar Waxwing?
Bohemians are bigger and grayer with rusty undertail coverts and white-and-yellow wing marks. Cedars are smaller and browner with a white undertail, yellow belly and red waxy wing tips.
Why do Bohemian Waxwings suddenly appear in huge flocks?
They are irruptive — when northern berry crops fail, thousands push south into the northern U.S., stripping every fruit tree they find.
What are the red tips on a waxwing’s wing?
Waxy droplets of feather pigment — most obvious on Cedar Waxwings. Their function is debated; they may signal age and status.
Do waxwings come to seed feeders?
Almost never — they are fruit specialists. Plant crabapple, serviceberry, mountain ash and dogwood instead, and offer moving water.
Can waxwings get drunk on fruit?
Yes — fermenting berries can intoxicate flocks, leaving birds wobbling or worse. It happens most in late winter with old fruit.
Which waxwing is more common?
The Cedar Waxwing, by far — it breeds across the northern U.S. and winters broadly. Bohemians appear mainly in the northern tier in irruption winters.
Key Takeaways
- Undertail: Rusty = Bohemian; white = Cedar.
- Size: Bigger = Bohemian; smaller = Cedar.
- Tone: Gray = Bohemian; brown + yellow belly = Cedar.
- Wings: White-yellow = Bohemian; red tips = Cedar.
- Call: Low trill = Bohemian; high lisp = Cedar.
- Feeders: Fruit trees, not seed, for both.