Laurence Alder
- May 3, 2021
- 3 min read

Waxwing | Bombycilla Garrulus

A Waxwing Rundown

Scientific Name: Bombycilla Garrulus

Average Size: 18cm

Average Wingspan: up to 35cm

Staus: Green List

Chatterbox

I think this might be one of my favourite birds that I have studied for this project so far. This particular waxwing is also known as the Bohemian waxwing, with bombycilla relating to the genus of the family of birds, and in Latin means 'Silk Tail.' I think this is very fitting as the plumage of the bird looks spectacularly silky and smooth.

Garrulus in latin means 'talkative' and when you hear the chattering of the bird later on in this blog, you'll understand why! I stumbled across the most lovely video which shows these little birds in action, click here to see. The waxwing, in British terms, relates directly to the red tip details of the bird. It is thought the red looks a little bit like the sealing wax you might find on letters.

We'll Go Where the Berries Go

The Waxwing, like many of the other birds within this series of artworks, will follow where the food is in abundance. Berries, with the Rowan berry being a firm favourite, are one of the main sources of food, so when a crop is not so good in the Scandinavian region, you'll usually find that they travel to the U.K. in search of good crops.

During the breeding seasons of Spring and Summer you'll usually find them in the North East of Europe, especially within conifer forests, they love to travel in flocks so once you see one or two, a few more will probably be in close proximity too. As mention before, to spot these within the U.K, there will have to be a bad crop of food in their nesting regions, pushing them to the western bounds of Europe.

They love built up areas and are actually known to be quite tame around humans, as they are usually not in contact with them within their breeding grounds.

Waxy Reds & Striking Yellows

The waxwing colour palette is the one that filled me with the most excitement. I absolutely adore the pale pinkish golden brown bodies and the way this contrasts beautifully with the strong blacks. The striking line throughout their eye, leading up to their large crest on stop of the heads are just a few of the defining features of the Waxwing.

They waxwings are said to get their name from the glossy red tips within their wings, as they almost resemble the wax seals you might find on important envelopes. (Think Harry Potter's letter from Hogwarts), fancy right? Along with this striking red, the bird also has a streak of yellow within their plumage.

These mix of colours and patterns within the wings strongly influenced all of my Waxwing pieces of art. I really wanted to experiment with how these unusual colours could work together, bringing together striking colours with warm peachy brown tones and chalky greys.

Tweet Tweet

Along with their distinctive look, they also come with their own distinctive call. When in the wild, listen out for a high metallic like shrill, you'll often hear few of these beautiful birds conversing like this with each other, in an even pitch. You can listen to this here.

Birds of a Feather, Flock Together

During the non-breeding season, when the Waxwings are on their search for food, they form large flocks. Together they work as a team to search for the luscious and beloved Rowan berry crops. Within the U.K. it has been noted that as they devour the berries, the flock will slowly begin to move further down south, they can consume up to half their body weight in berries per day during the winter period.

When courting, the male waxwing will puff out its feathers, making their appearance seem bigger. Then, rather adorably, the male will pass an item to the female, usually a berry or a flower. The item will then be passed back and forth between the male and female before the... ritual... takes place. Cedar waxwings are part of the same family of birds, and mate in a similar way, you can find a video of how this happens here.

How completely wonderful is that. Waxwings will only have one brood during their life time. The young will often stay with them as close knit family unit during the first migration and winter period.

Donate

With each sale made within the Winter Bird Collection 10% of profits are donated to the RSPB. They are one of the largest conservation charities within the UK. To find out more about their work or to donate to the charity please visit their website.