Photo courtest Pete Williams, Gulf Breeze, Florida
Copyright (c) 2007 Pete Williams

What to look for: Overall length is about 7-1/2 inches. The crest is mostly soft brown, with black face pattern. The tail is yellow tipped, and red spots may be seen on the wings, often with brown streaks. The preferred habitat is open forests, areas with scattered trees, wooded swamps, orchards and suburbs,

Cedar waxwings are a sociable species. It is common to see a row of them perched on a branch, passing food down the line and back again , bill to bill, in a routine that ends when one swallows the food. The birds wander in flocks. The arrival and departure is unpredictable.