Yesterday for the first time I was able to physically distinguish a male from a female Cedar Waxwing.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I’ve been seeing waxwings in this tree in the mountains for days now but until yesterday I’ve never been able to get any decent shots of them. But just before this photo was taken we saw a waxwing carry nesting material into the very dense middle of the tree so I figured I’d hang around for a while and see if I could get lucky with one of them. I never did photograph one with nesting material (although I came very close that first time) but this bird eventually came out from the interior of the tree and sat on this exposed branch for at least 12 minutes.
It didn’t give me much pose variety but here it had fluffed up a little and the resulting pot-bellied look amuses me.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Eventually it did turn around on the perch which gave me a slightly different look
Once again the wind was blowing and this long branch with relatively heavy leaves on one end of it was bouncing up and down like a teeter-totter for the entire time. Looking through my lens it actually made me dizzy as I tried to keep the bird in the frame and well composed.
1/1000, f/14 ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Four minutes after I left the previous bird and drove down the road I encountered a single waxwing perched in another tree a little further away. I took a few shots but when I took my eye off of it for a couple of seconds to look at my camera screen and check my exposure I looked back and there were two of them, perched side by side. The second waxwing had flown in while I was looking away.
In Cedar Waxwings the sexes are very similar so in the past I’ve never been able to reliably distinguish males from females based on physical features but with these two sitting right next to each other it’s much easier.
There’s a noticeable physical difference between these two – can you spot it? No, it has nothing to do with their relative size – the bird in front may look larger and stockier but that’s only because it’s fluffed up a little.
Males can be distinguished from females because they have a darker and more extensive black chin-patch so the male is the bird closest to us and the other waxwing is almost certainly his mate. This difference is difficult to discern in the field with a single bird but with two of them next to each other it becomes much easier.
Ron
Wonderful captures Ron. I rarely get to shoot these birds,
Beautiful photo, side by side. Mr and Mrs Proper.
Thank you once again, professor. I will have to keep a close eye out! I’ve had some Olive-winged Flycatchers in my yard lately. Such acrobats!
Thanks, Arwen.
The last shot is just perfect ❗️ I’ve only seen one a couple times so this is a treat.
PS.One of our (big!) baby eagles fledged yesterday😃 On the ground right below the sign that reads ” Eagle viewing area”, how fitting was that❗️
Have good day
Thank you, Diana.
Excellent post Ron, great job, beautiful shots. This black chin/under the bill into the neck of a male, this characteristic is SO overlooked, even in some field guides. Wonderful example of what to look for! Congratulations!
You make a good point about some field guides, Dick. I notice that Sibley doesn’t mention that black chin patch and his painting of the adult of the species is generic for both sexes.
My version of Sibley doesn’t mention the black chin patch either, nor does my newer National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Kaufman’s BNA (2000) shows the difference in the drawings, but does not mention it in the text. Stokes Field Guide doesn’t mention it either, nor show it. Not mentioned in 1977 version of Audubon Field Guide to NAB, Eastern Region. Guess I will keep reading your blog.
Good! Always glad to have you around, Dave!
And an “eye catch” in all of them, especially the duo. Well done and typically informative.
You noticed, Lyle! Believe me, I have plenty of shots of those two birds where catch lights are missing on one or even both birds.
Wow! I just returned from a walk in a park near my house where I had quite a few photo opportunities with Cedar Waxwings – then lo and behold – your post! Your pictures are gorgeous especially that last shot. Can’t wait to see my results and try to identify the males from females. Of course I’m shooting with the set up you call your “baby” camera so those darn waxwings are much smaller in my frame.
For once I had good timing, Joanne!
I love my “baby lens” for situations when I’m quite close to the bird.
Interesting info….They really do look like they are made of wax…their colors are so soft and sleek…beautiful birds.
Patty, the “wax” in their name came from those red “wax droplets” on the ends of their primaries. Thank you.
I know,(sealing wax–I can actually remember it being used… With a personaIized stamp), but that aside, their coloring is so smooth and they actually look as if they’re made of wax…they do look “airbrushed”…a great description….
You’re right. In fact because of that it’s often very difficult so show much feather detail in waxwing photos.
Beautiful birds — it looks like some of those markings are airbrushed on. Love the potbellies, especially as it’s the female (I feel a kinship in that sense).😜
Do the females also have the pop of red at the wing tips?
Marty, Yes, both sexes have those red “wax droplets” on the ends of their primaries. That trait was the origin of the name “waxwing”.
Wow! Totally cool! I love learning something new and fascinating like that. I never would have connected those structures to wax droplets. I must lack imagination! 🙂
Believe me, Marty – no one would EVER accuse you of lacking imagination!
Nice photos of these beautiful birds Ron. Really like the one of the pair of them. We have had them come into our neighborhoods in flocks of at least one hundred if not more. When the juniper tree berries are ready you will literally see groups of ten or more per tree until the berries are gone. And thanks for the tip, was not aware of how to distinguish their sex.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
You’re lucky, Everett. I’ve very rarely seen in them my yard – only a time or two over the years. Thanks.
Isn’t it wonderful when things just fall into place like that.
And I just have to channel Paul Hogan (though I despise the man) ‘Call that a pot belly?….’
Thanks Ron.
“That’s not a knife, THIS IS A KNIFE”! That line in the movie cracked me up.
Wonderful Ron! I didn’t know how to distinguish male from female. Thanks so much!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte. I’m glad the photo and info were helpful.
Good info and that beautiful third photo really shows the difference. I went back through my Waxwing album to check the photos and I did find a few pairs where I could see the difference but it sure wasn’t easy…you really need the right angle. Such a fun bird to watch! When a flock of these ‘masked marauders’ fly into a berry tree not much is left when they leave. I have a large ServiceBerry tree in my yard…they know exactly when to hit it…I have never been able to get enough berries for a pie…but I sure get nice photos! 🙂
Thanks, Kathy. Personally I’d rather have the waxwings than the pie. But then I’m not much of a pie guy, unless it’s chocolate of course…
How interesting, Ron!! I can count on you to increase my knowledge about our wonderful wild birds!! Cedar are so interesting in appearance & now I can check out who’s male & who’s female!! From what you spotted, I had to go back & look at your 2 other photos & it appears to be a female?!! I’ve never seen them in the wild but I have a couple of friends who are lucky to get visits from them every season. I know they will love your blog on their favorite bird!!
I’m undecided about the sex of my bird above, Jo Ann but female would be my guess too. Depending on light and some individual variation it can be difficult to tell the sex for sure with just a single bird, especially in a single image. Other times it seems to be fairly easy.
Beautiful birds, Ron. No wonder they all “look the same” to me! 😉 When no fluffed up they are SO sleek and subtly colored. :)We don’t really “see them” this time of year – a “winter” bird for us with ornamental crabs and, maybe, some leftover chokecherries and buffalo berries for them. I did see a couple this week and I hear them from time to time. Glad you could capture them together and point out the difference!
Judy, I have fond memories of waxwings in MT. The first time I ever photographed them was in Virginia City, MT.
Great shots! These beautiful birds are one of my favorite. Thank you for the detail in distinguishing the male from female. I got a shot of 2 together last week, so I need to go back and look more closely at them now. ☺️
Thanks, Mary Ann. If your birds are male and female (quite likely this time of year) I hope you can tell them apart.