Species › Birds › Bohemian Waxwing

Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulus

UncommonBird
Illustration of Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)

The Bohemian Waxwing is a larger, grayer, and rarer relative of the Cedar Waxwing, with rusty undertail coverts and yellow and white wing markings. Like its relative, it has bright red waxy tips on the secondary feathers of unknown function. It is an irruptive species that appears in large flocks in southern Canada and the northern United States only when northern berry crops fail.

Habitat
Boreal forests in summer; towns and suburban areas in irruption winters
Diet
Berries, especially mountain ash and crabapples
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Bohemian Waxwing

The best time to see a Bohemian Waxwing is January–March, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 2,421 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Bohemian Waxwing? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Bohemian Waxwing sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Bohemian Waxwing?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More birds

Bonaparte's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Boreal Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee
Poecile hudsonicus
Boreal Owl
Boreal Owl
Aegolius funereus
Botteri's Sparrow
Botteri's Sparrow
Peucaea botterii
Brandt's Cormorant
Brandt's Cormorant
Urile penicillatus
Brant
Brant
Branta bernicla
Brewer's Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Brewer's Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Spizella breweri