Bombycilla cedrorum
Berry trees and open woods across most of the continent. Moves with the fruit. No useful track.
What does a cedar waxwing look like?
Sleek brown, crested, black mask, yellow tail tip.
What do cedar waxwing tracks look like?
Not a track identification. A flock stripping a berry tree is the usual scene.
- No useful track
- Crest and a black mask
- Yellow band on the tail tip
- Smooth brown plumage
- A flock in a berry tree
What does cedar waxwing poop look like?
Purple berry droppings under a fruiting tree. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Berry trees and open woods across most of the continent. Moves with the fruit. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not approach a nest
- If a bird is injured, call a local wildlife rehabilitator
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Northern cardinal identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
A sleek tan bird with a crest, a black mask, and a yellow tip on the tail.
How to tell a cedar waxwing from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Northern cardinal. A small songbird print. Crest, thick orange bill.
Cedar waxwing field marks
- No useful track
- Crest and a black mask
- Yellow band on the tail tip
- Smooth brown plumage
Where the sign shows up
Berry trees and open woods across most of the continent. Moves with the fruit. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
Not a track identification. A flock stripping a berry tree is the usual scene. Purple berry droppings under a fruiting tree.
Common questions
What does a cedar waxwing look like?
A sleek tan bird with a crest, a black mask, and a yellow tip on the tail.