Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) lives in coniferous woodlands across Northern Europe. It feeds on berries and insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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The Bohemian waxwing's secondary wing feathers finish in bright red tips that resemble sealing wax, giving the species its common name. These tips are the flattened ends of feather shafts and are pigmented with astaxanthin. Adult males typically bear six to eight of these red tips, while females have five to seven. The striking waxy markings are a reliable field mark for identifying this bird in flight.
In winter waxwings readily visit towns and gardens, especially where rowan berries are abundant, and they readily eat the fermenting fruit. Their metabolism can process the alcohol produced by these berries, allowing them to feed on ripe, fermenting fruit without immediate harm. However, excessive intake can still lead to intoxication, and in severe cases it may be fatal.
When winter fruit supplies are poor, Bohemian waxwings may irrupt far beyond their normal range, gathering in massive flocks that travel great distances in search of food. Such irruptions can involve huge numbers, as illustrated by the winter of 2004-2005 when over half a million individuals were recorded in Germany, one of the largest events in Europe.
When a Bohemian waxwing flock lifts off or settles, the wings generate a sharp rattling noise that can be heard from a distance of about 30 m. This sound is produced by the rapid movement of their long, pointed wings, which are marked with bright yellow and white "fish-hook" tips. In flight the birds resemble starlings, moving fast and directly with a short tail, which helps them create the characteristic rattling.
Bohemian waxwings are not faithful to the same wintering grounds each year, often shifting to entirely new areas. One individual recorded wintering in Ukraine was found 6 000 km east in Siberia the following season, illustrating the species' tendency to relocate. Their migrations normally begin in September in the north and a month later further south, with birds moving wherever fruit supplies are sufficient.
Sources
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As the Bohemian Waxwing flits through the frost-encrusted landscape, its sleek, grey-brown plumage glistens like polished stone, while the vibrant splashes of crimson and yellow on its wings seem to ignite with an inner fire, as if the very essence of the winter sun had been distilled into its being. With a fluid, almost effortless motion, it darts between the skeletal branches of bare trees, its crest bobbing gently as it searches for the succulent berries that sustain it through the harsh, snow-bound months. In its nomadic wanderings, this bird weaves a subtle, yet resilient, thread of life through the frozen wilderness, a testament to the enduring power of beauty and adaptability in the natural world.
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