Bohemian Waxwing | ||||||||||||||
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
Bombycilla garrulus |
Like other waxwings, it eats insects in the breeding season and berries in winter. This species is eruptive, moving south in huge numbers if the berry supply fails in winter.
Its flight is strong and direct, and in flight it looks like a pale starling.
The call is a pleasant ringing sound.
Its English and scientific names both refer to the red blobs on its wings, which look like sealing wax.
Birds in winter can be very confiding and will come into gardens for berry bushes and trees, a favourite being the rowan.