Quick Answer
The bird that most closely resembles the cedar waxwing is the Bohemian waxwing. Both birds have similar size, shape, coloring, and behavior. Key identifiers are the crest on the head, black mask around the eyes, yellow tail band, and red wax-like tips on the secondary feathers. However, Bohemian waxwings are more brownish-gray rather than grayish-brown like cedar waxwings. And Bohemian waxwings have more extensive red coloring on the wing feathers. Other birds like the northern shrike and juvenile mockingbird share some visual similarities with waxwings but can be distinguished by differences in size, shape, behavior, habitat, and other features.
Similar Appearance of Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings
Cedar waxwings and Bohemian waxwings are very closely related birds in the Bombycillidae family. They share a nearly identical body shape and plumage pattern. Both species have:
– A crest on the top of the head
– A black mask surrounding the eyes
– Pale yellow belly
– Yellow band at the end of the tail
– Red, wax-like tips on the ends of some secondary wing feathers
These visual characteristics give both birds a sleek, streamlined, almost exotic look. When sitting still, the two species are virtually indistinguishable except under close inspection.
The most reliable way to tell them apart is by their overall coloration. Cedar waxwings are a soft grayish-brown color. Bohemian waxwings are more grayish-brown with a light brown wash, especially on the head and upper breast. Bohemian waxwings generally look more brown, while cedar waxwings look more gray.
Range and Habitat
Another clue is their range and habitat preferences. Cedar waxwings are found throughout most of North and Central America in open woodlands, particularly around fruit trees. Bohemian waxwings breed in the forests of northern North America and Eurasia. In winter they wander nomadically to forests and fruiting trees further south in unpredictable patterns. So if you see a waxwing in the lower 48 states away from winter, it’s almost certainly a cedar waxwing.
Wing Markings
The most obvious difference between the two species is in the wing markings. Both have red, wax-like tips on some of their secondary feathers. But Bohemian waxwings have much more extensive red markings, with whole webs of the feather colored red or orange rather than just the tips. So when seen up close or in flight, Bohemian waxwings flash bright reddish coloring across the wings. Cedar waxwings’ wings look more yellow by comparison.
Behavior
Both Bohemian and cedar waxwings exhibit highly social behavior, traveling in large flocks and practicing cooperative breeding. They forage together for berries and can become intoxicated when eating overripe fruit. So observing waxwing behavior doesn’t provide many clues on telling the species apart. However, Bohemian waxwings tend to be less wary of humans than cedar waxwings. This reflects their remoteness from human activity for much of the year high in the northern forests.
Other Birds Resembling Waxwings
While the Bohemian waxwing is by far the bird most similar to the cedar waxwing, a few other species share some waxwing characteristics:
Northern Shrike
The northern shrike is a predatory songbird with some visual similarities to waxwings:
– Gray plumage
– Black mask around eyes
– Black wings with white patches
However, northern shrikes have a very different body shape, being bigger and bulkier with a larger head and hooked beak. They lack a crest and have a black-and-white banded tail. Their behavior is also very un-waxwing-like, being solitary and aggressive predators rather than social fruit-eaters. Overall they are unlikely to be confused with waxwings except at a quick glance.
Juvenile Mockingbird
Young mockingbirds freshly out of the nest display a surprising number of waxwing-like traits:
– Gray-brown coloration
– Dark mask (also present in adult mockingbirds)
– White wing patches
– Tail band (less distinct than in waxwings)
But mockingbird fledglings also have a distinctly different shape and posture than waxwings. And their behavior – hopping on the ground, fluttering short distances, and begging from parents – quickly gives them away as juvenile songbirds rather than a waxwing. Any observer paying moderate attention would never mix up the two.
Conclusion
While the Bohemian waxwing is the bird species most often confused with the cedar waxwing, other birds may momentarily resemble waxwings under certain conditions. But all can be easily distinguished with closer inspection of coloration, shape, behavior, range, and other characteristics. So while juvenile mockingbirds and northern shrikes may briefly fool the eye, no North American bird perfectly mimics the graceful silhouette and sophisticated plumage of a waxwing. The Bohemian waxwing comes closest, but even it can be told apart with a bit of careful observation.
