The Cedar Waxwing is a sleek, medium-sized songbird easily identified by its pale yellow belly, black mask, and a prominent crest. Its appearance is complemented by small, red, waxy tips on its secondary wing feathers and a bright yellow band at the tail tip. Traveling in highly social flocks, these birds are common across North America, often found perched in fruiting trees and shrubs.
Defining the Mating Structure
Cedar Waxwings do not form bonds that last for their entire lives; rather, they exhibit serial or seasonal monogamy. This means a pair will remain together only for the duration of a single breeding season to raise their young. Outside of the nesting period, the birds disperse from their paired arrangement and rejoin large, often nomadic flocks. The pairing is functionally driven by the immediate need for two parents to successfully build a nest and feed the offspring. Once the young are independent, the pair bond dissolves, and the individuals are free to choose a different partner the following year.
Unique Courtship Rituals
The formation of the seasonal pair bond is initiated by a distinct courtship display. The male typically begins the ritual by presenting a small, symbolic gift to the female, such as a berry, a flower petal, or a small insect. This offering is followed by a choreographed exchange where the pair alternates a side-hopping movement on a branch, often touching bills. The item is passed back and forth multiple times in a focused manner. This gift-giving behavior demonstrates the male’s ability to provide food for the young, serving as a functional test of his parental qualities. The exchange continues until the female consumes the offering, which solidifies the temporary bond.
Cooperative Nesting and Rearing
Once the courtship is successful, the newly formed pair immediately begins the work of raising a family. The female undertakes the majority of the nest construction, meticulously weaving materials like twigs, grasses, and fine roots into a bulky cup. Cedar Waxwings time their nesting activities later in the summer than most other birds, strategically coinciding with the peak ripeness of summer fruits, their primary food source. Following the 11 to 13-day incubation period, performed primarily by the female, the cooperative nature of the relationship becomes apparent. Both the male and female share the demanding role of feeding the nestlings, jointly bringing protein-rich insects and small fruits to the young until they fledge after about two weeks.