Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

Looking like a plump mischievous bandit with a mask of black around the eyes and a spiky pointed crest on top of its head, this bird can often be seen traveling in flocks as they forage for food. The waxwing has a primarily fruit-based diet and can subsist on berries alone for prolonged periods. Named for the small bright red appendages found at the tips of their secondary wing feathers which are made of waxy secretions, the coloring is a direct result of their fruity diet. The spots increase in number as the bird ages and may signal status within a flock or play a role during mate selection. The exact function is still unclear.