waxwing

/waks"wing'/, n.

any of several songbirds of the family Bombycillidae, having a showy crest and certain feathers tipped with a red, waxy material, as Bombycilla garrulus (Bohemian waxwing), of the Northern Hemisphere.

[1810-20; WAX¹ + WING]

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Any of three species (family Bombycillidae) of elegant-looking songbirds named for shiny red beads on the tips of the secondary wing feathers.

All species are gray-brown and have a tapering crest. The common, or Bohemian, waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is 8 in. (20 cm) long and has yellow, white, and red wing markings. It breeds in northern forests of Eurasia and America. The cedar waxwing (B. cedrorum), smaller and less colourful, breeds in Canada and the northern U.S. Flocks of waxwings may invade city parks and gardens in winter, searching for berries. The Japanese waxwing (B. japonica) is restricted to northeastern Asia.

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▪ bird

 any of three species of birds belonging to the songbird family Bombycillidae (order Passeriformes). They are elegant-looking birds named for beads of shiny red material on the tips of the secondary wing feathers. All species are gray-brown, with tapering crest. The common, or Bohemian, waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is 20 cm (8 inches) long and has yellow and white wing markings in addition to red. It breeds in northern forests of Eurasia and America and every few years irrupts far southward in winter. The cedar waxwing (B. cedrorum), smaller and less colourful, breeds in Canada and the northern United States. Flocks of waxwings may invade city parks and gardens in winter, searching for berries.

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