March 13
You can tell the season by which type of waxwing is in Edmonton; summer, Cedar Waxwings and Winter, Bohemian Waxwings. Yesterday a flock of 300-400 Bohemian Waxwings visited a nearby fruit tree. Connor and I spend 30 minutes photographing them feeding on berries and drinking water from puddles on the sidewalk. Soon they will be heading north to breed and the Cedar Waxwings will return from the Southern US and Central America.
They are called waxwings because of the red tips on their feathers are actually wax secretions. The purpose of the wax tips is still unknown. Some theories support that they protect the tips of the feathers, others that they reflect age and social ranking. I am sure the waxwings know why but it may take us a while to figure out.
An interesting behavior watch is when birds are drinking. Many cannot swallow. They scoop the water up in their beak and then tilt their head back to let the water run down their throat.
Stay well !
