Cedar Waxwing vs Bohemian Waxwing: What’s the Difference?

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Birdwatchers across North America often confuse Cedar Waxwings and Bohemian Waxwings. At first glance, these elegant songbirds appear almost identical. Both belong to the waxwing family, share silky plumage, wear a distinctive black face mask, and display bright red wax-like tips on their wing feathers.

However, despite their similarities, these two species differ in their appearance, habitat, behavior, range, diet, and breeding ecology.

In this guide, we’ll compare Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) and Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus), covering everything from physical characteristics to migration patterns, vocalizations, and conservation status.

Quick Comparison: Cedar Waxwing vs Bohemian Waxwing

Meet the Waxwing Family

Waxwings belong to the family Bombycillidae, a small family of passerine birds known for their soft plumage, social behavior, and remarkable fruit-eating habits.

Only three living waxwing species exist worldwide:

• Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
• Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
• Japanese Waxwing (Bombycilla japonica)

Among these, Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings are the two species most frequently encountered by birdwatchers in North America.

Physical Differences

1. Overall Size

The easiest distinction is size.

Bohemian Waxwings are noticeably larger and heavier than Cedar Waxwings.

• Cedar Waxwing: about 6–7 inches long
• Bohemian Waxwing: about 8–9 inches long

When seen side by side, the Bohemian appears stockier with a broader chest and thicker neck.

2. Plumage Color

Cedar Waxwing

The Cedar Waxwing has:

• Warm brown head
  Smooth tan body
• Soft yellow belly
• Gray wings
• Bright yellow tail tip

Its plumage creates an elegant gradient from brown to pale yellow.

Bohemian Waxwing

The Bohemian Waxwing has:

• Cool gray body
• Cinnamon face
• Rich chestnut under-tail coverts
• White and yellow wing patches
• Bright yellow tail band

Overall, the Bohemian looks bolder and more colorful.

3. Wing Markings

Wing patterns provide one of the most reliable identification features.

Cedar Waxwing

• Small red wax tips
• Plain gray wings
• Minimal white markings

Bohemian Waxwing

• Red wax tips
• Large white wing patches
• Bright yellow edging
• More decorative appearance

If you notice striking white stripes on the wings, you’re almost certainly looking at a Bohemian Waxwing.

4. Under-tail Coverts

Birders often check the feathers beneath the tail.

• Cedar Waxwing → white
• Bohemian Waxwing → rusty chestnut

This is one of the most dependable field marks.

5. Crest Shape

Both species have elegant crests.

However:

• Cedar Waxwing → narrow, pointed crest
• Bohemian Waxwing → larger, fuller crest

The Bohemian’s crest gives it a more robust appearance.

Geographic Distribution

Cedar Waxwing Range

Cedar Waxwings are widespread throughout:

• Southern Canada
• Most of the United States
• Mexico
• Central America

Many populations migrate seasonally, while southern birds remain year-round.

They are among the most common fruit-eating birds in suburban neighborhoods.

Bohemian Waxwing Range

Bohemian Waxwings occupy much colder regions.

Their breeding range includes:

• Alaska
• Northern Canada
• Scandinavia
• Siberia
• Arctic forests

During winter, they move south into:

• Northern United States
• Central Europe
• Northern China

Unlike Cedar Waxwings, Bohemian Waxwings rarely breed in populated areas.

Habitat Preferences

Cedar Waxwing Habitat

They favor:

• Deciduous woodlands
• Parks
• Orchards
• Gardens
• River edges
• Suburban neighborhoods

They thrive wherever fruit-bearing trees are abundant.

Bohemian Waxwing Habitat

They prefer:

• Boreal forests
• Taiga
• Spruce forests
• Mountain conifer forests

During winter, they often visit towns searching for ornamental berry trees.

Diet Comparison

Both species are highly frugivorous, meaning fruit forms the majority of their diet.

Cedar Waxwing Diet

Favorite foods include:

• Cedar berries
• Juniper berries
• Dogwood berries
• Cherries
• Mulberries
• Blueberries
• Serviceberries

During summer they also consume:

• Flying insects
• Beetles
• Dragonflies
• Mayflies

Interestingly, Cedar Waxwings catch insects in midair like flycatchers.

Bohemian Waxwing Diet

Bohemian Waxwings rely even more heavily on berries.

They commonly eat:

• Rowan berries
• Mountain ash
• Crabapples
• Juniper berries
• Cotoneaster berries

In breeding season they supplement with:

• Mosquitoes
• Midges
• Caterpillars
• Beetles
• Feeding Behavior

Both species often feed in large flocks.

One fascinating behavior is fruit passing, where birds pass berries from one individual to another before finally eating them.

This appears to strengthen pair bonds during courtship.

They also consume berries extremely quickly.

A flock can strip an entire fruiting tree within hours.

Vocalizations

Both waxwings produce high-pitched, thin whistles.

Cedar Waxwing Call

• Higher pitch
• Softer
• Repeated “seeee” whistles

Bohemian Waxwing Call

• Lower
• Buzzier
• More trilling

Birders often identify flying flocks long before seeing them by recognizing these distinctive calls.

Breeding and Nesting

Cedar Waxwing

Breeding season:

• June to August

Nest location:

• Small trees
• Shrubs
• Woodland edges

Clutch size:

• 3–6 eggs

Both parents help raise the chicks.

Bohemian Waxwing

Breeding season:

• May to July

Nest location:

• Spruce trees
• Fir trees
• Boreal conifers

Clutch size:

• 4–6 eggs

Because northern summers are short, nesting progresses rapidly.

Migration Patterns

Cedar Waxwing

Migration depends on berry availability rather than temperature.

Some populations migrate thousands of miles.

Others remain year-round.

This irregular movement makes them somewhat unpredictable.

Bohemian Waxwing

Bohemian Waxwings are famous for irruptive migration.

Every few years, when northern berry crops fail, enormous flocks move far south.

These irruptions can bring thousands of birds into cities where they are normally absent.

Behavior

Both species are highly social.

Common behaviors include:

• Traveling in flocks
• Communal roosting
• Cooperative feeding
• Pair bonding through fruit sharing

Waxwings are unusually gentle birds, rarely showing aggressive behavior compared to many other songbirds.

Lifespan

Average lifespan:

Cedar Waxwing

• Wild: 5–8 years
• Maximum recorded: over 13 years

Bohemian Waxwing

• Wild: 5–10 years
• Maximum recorded: over 15 years

Predators include:

• Sharp-shinned Hawks
• Cooper’s Hawks
• Merlins
• Domestic cats

Conservation Status

Fortunately, both species are currently considered to have stable global populations.

Cedar Waxwing

Population trends remain generally stable due to their adaptability to suburban environments with ornamental fruit trees.

Bohemian Waxwing

Populations are also stable, although climate change may gradually alter the extent of suitable boreal breeding habitat over the coming decades.

Final Thoughts

Although Cedar Waxwings and Bohemian Waxwings share an unmistakable elegance and many similar behaviors, they are distinct species with unique adaptations. Cedar Waxwings are smaller, warmer-toned birds that flourish across North America’s woodlands, orchards, and suburban landscapes, while Bohemian Waxwings are larger, colder-climate specialists of the boreal forest, recognized by their striking wing patches and chestnut under-tail feathers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cedar Waxwings and Bohemian Waxwings the same species?

No. Although they belong to the same genus (Bombycilla) and share many physical characteristics, they are separate species with different ranges, sizes, and plumage patterns.

Which waxwing is larger?

The Bohemian Waxwing is noticeably larger and heavier than the Cedar Waxwing. It also has broader wings and a more robust body.

Can the two species be seen together?

Yes. During winter, especially in western Canada, Alaska, and parts of the northern United States, their ranges may overlap. Mixed flocks occasionally occur where berry supplies are abundant.

Why do waxwings have red wax tips on their wings?

The bright red, wax-like appendages are modified feather tips. Scientists believe they may play a role in mate selection and age recognition, although their exact function is still being studied.

Do both species eat insects?

Yes. Both species consume insects during the breeding season to provide protein for themselves and their growing chicks. However, fruit remains their primary food source for much of the year.