How do you recognise a Bohemian waxwing?

The Bohemian waxwing (Latvian: Zīdaste, Bombycilla garrulus) has soft grey-brown plumage, a prominent crest, a black face mask, and a yellow band at the tip of the tail. Look too for small red tips on some of the wing feathers; they resemble sealing wax and are the feature the English name refers to. Waxwings move in flocks, and the flocks keep in contact with fine, trilling calls, so listening can help you find a flock before you see it. In Latvia you are most likely to meet them in autumn and winter, often in parks, gardens, and streets where rowans and other berry-bearing trees are fruiting, since the guide describes the species as a northern songbird whose winter movements follow the berry supply.

Sources

• Waxwings
• A short bird guide

Related questions

• /ask/why-are-waxwings-called-waxwings
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