Masked Berry Bandits

Built for gobbling fruit, cedar waxwings are striking, social birds.

- Kelsey Roseth

With bright pops of color, bold markings and slim, shiny bodies, cedar waxwings are a sight to behold. Their behavior is exciting to watch, and they snatch berries in their bills before swallowing them whole—sometimes while hovering underneath a branch.

Waxwings sport sleek bodies with black masks over their eyes and a prominent tan crest atop their heads. The coloring of males and females is nearly identical. These distinctive birds are slightly smaller than a robin, with a large head and a short wide bill. Their wings are light gray, bellies are a soft yellow and tails have a bright yellow tip.