Science Photo of the Day
How did these birds get their name?
Marvelous! The "Cedar" part of the name comes from their fondness for seeds from the cones of Eastern Red Cedar (which is really a Juniper, not a Cedar.) The "Waxwing" part comes from the red wax that is secreted along the shafts of the secondary wing feathers. Like other colorful birds, this red wax seems to play a role in attracting a mate.
They are known for their very social nature, and they are rarely seen alone. They are very polite to each other, taking turns and feeding in shifts when food is limited. They also tend to get intoxicated frequently, from eating fermented berries.
Science Photo of the Day
These are cedar waxwings. The red appendages or bright "sealing wax" at the end of the second wing gives the bird its name.
cedar waxwings
We read the Cornell U Bird Lab page on these. Two reasons: they like eating cedar berries and they produce a red waxy substance from their wings. They are very beautiful. Where did you take this picture? Near your house?
The same page mentioned that these birds like fruit so much they may even eat berries that have begun to ferment. They can get intoxicated or very sick. Other types of birds can't grow properly on such a diet of fruit. That's interesting. (to Mom anyway.)
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