The Cedar Waxwing is a medium-sized songbird recognizable by its sleek, brownish-gray plumage, black mask, and a prominent crest. They are named for the small, bright red, wax-like droplets found on the tips of their secondary wing feathers. While they do migrate, their movement is highly irregular and unpredictable, driven by the constant search for food rather than seasonal temperature changes.
Defining Cedar Waxwing Movement Patterns
The movements of the Cedar Waxwing are highly variable and unpredictable compared to the fixed routes of traditional migrants. Instead of following a set North-South route, their travel pattern is best described as irruptive migration and nomadic wandering, dictated entirely by the availability of food.
An irruption occurs when large numbers of birds suddenly move far outside their normal range, often due to a failure in their food source. This contrasts sharply with fixed migration, where the destination is consistent annually. Cedar Waxwings are non-territorial and travel in highly social flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds.
Their nomadic nature means they will remain in a northern location throughout the winter if a reliable food source is available. Conversely, a local crop failure triggers a mass movement far to the south in search of new supplies. This constant wandering means a flock seen in one location one winter may be entirely absent the next, as their travel timing is tied to the local fruit crop.
Geographic Range and Seasonal Presence
The Cedar Waxwing’s breeding range extends across the open wooded areas of southern Canada and the northern half of the United States. They are one of the latest North American birds to begin nesting, timing their breeding cycle to coincide with the peak availability of summer-ripening fruits. During the summer, they are widespread, utilizing deciduous, coniferous, and mixed woodlands, as well as suburban areas.
Their non-breeding or wintering range is significantly more fluid and extensive than their summer range. The species is considered a year-round resident in the central United States, but flocks frequently move south into Mexico and Central America, occasionally reaching Panama.
If a substantial crop of persistent berries remains in the northern states, many flocks may remain far north for the entire winter. If resources are scarce, they push farther south, which is why their winter presence in states like Texas and Florida can be abundant but irregular. The southern limit of their winter range fluctuates dramatically based on the success of annual fruit crops.
The Primary Driver: Fruit Supply
The unique movement pattern of the Cedar Waxwing is directly linked to its specialized diet. They are predominantly frugivorous, with fruit making up nearly 85% of their annual diet, especially between October and April when insects are less available. This heavy reliance on berries, such as those from juniper, dogwood, wild cherries, and eastern red cedar, means their survival depends on finding concentrated food sources.
The availability of fruit acts as the primary “pull” or “push” factor for their movements. A bumper crop of berries attracts large flocks, while the depletion of a fruit source forces them to move quickly. Their digestive system is adapted for this diet, featuring a relatively short intestinal tract that allows fruit to pass through rapidly, extracting necessary sugars efficiently.
A curious characteristic is their occasional consumption of berries that have fermented on the branch, producing alcohol. Cedar Waxwings sometimes gorge on this fermented fruit, causing temporary intoxication that leads to erratic flight. While their large livers help them process the ethanol, this behavior highlights their single-minded focus on fruit consumption.