Cedar Waxwing

Erika and I photographed this Cedar Waxwing in the Carleton College arboretum on 22 September 2018. Although waxwings will flycatch for insect prey, these birds are one of the few North American birds specialized for eating fruit. Indeed, this individual feasted on the cedar berries for which the bird is named. Waxwings get nutrients from the fruit pulp and pass the fruit seeds onto the surrounding countryside (Witmer et al. 2014). Eating fruit has also caused waxwing numbers to increase, as people plant ornamental fruit trees in ever-expanding suburban sprawl. Waxwings may also benefit from recent regulation of agricultural pesticides.