Birds

Ornithologists know it as the Bombycilla garrulus, which is a particularly apt name for a winged forager that is a chatterbox and occasional party animal. Latin name aside, it is more popularly known as the Bohemian Waxwing. It grows larger than a sparrow, usually to 20 cm (8”) and is slightly bigger, has more gray and is definitely more elaborately plumed than its cinnamon-brown cousin, the Cedar Waxwing.

Boasting a large crest on a crown with reddish-buff tint, as well as a narrow black eye-mask, the Bohemian Waxwing looks like it is dressed up for an elegant masquerade party. It can also be recognized by its bold black, yellow and white markings on its wings, and by the yellow tip on its tail.

The Bohemian Waxwing is a gregarious bird that likes to travel in large nomadic flocks, so it is not uncommon to see hundreds of them together at one time, especially as they prepare to migrate northwards in the spring to breed. With their dashing appearance, somewhat flighty demeanor, and penchant for congregating in flocks, they can create quite a stir when they drop in on a neighborhood.

Known to overindulge in feasts of overripe fruit leading to behavior described as “drunken revelry” Bohemian Waxwings are also famous for engaging in the sharing of food, often as part of unusually tender mating rituals. Unlike some birds that fiercely compete for access to food and water, the highly sociable Bohemians can be observed eating and bathing in an orderly fashion, with groups systematically harvesting a stand of berries or patiently taking turns to use a small puddle or pool.

The hardy Bohemian Waxwings like to raise their young in remote parts of the boreal forest where the damp, mossy terrain can provide them with insects to supplement their mostly fruit diet. The traditional breeding ground of the Bohemians ranges as far north as the treed areas of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. In winter they have been known to travel as far south as central California, but in recent years this pattern has changed and large flocks of them can be found in Alberta and Saskatchewan even in the dead of winter. Their preferred habitat is parkland with access to running water and a variety of fruit to sustain them. Whether fresh or frozen on the bushes, it doesn’t seem to matter to them.

In the wild, Bohemian Waxwings announce their presence with their striking appearance and their wheezy call, but they can discretely blend into the leafy shrubs and trees where they typically like to perch. They have a reputation for suddenly appearing and disappearing from feeding grounds, sometimes moving among several over a period of time before flying off once the bushes have been picked clean.

Local populations of wintering-over Bohemians fluctuate according to the availability of the berries that are their main source of food. In addition to mountain ash, juniper and cedar berries, high bush cranberries (Kalyna) are a favorite treat. So besides adding a touch of color in the winter landscape, the red clusters of frozen berries clinging to the otherwise bare branches are something for the Bohemians to sing about. In Kalyna Country, they have been adopted as the official bird, and a growing number of residents have taken to growing the high bush cranberry as shrubbery to provide a food source for their honored feathered guests.

If you happen to be in Alberta in berry-picking time, take a swing through the east-central area (east of Edmonton) into Kalyna country. You won’t have much difficulty in spotting some Bohemian Waxwings flitting about from bush to bush. And as an added bonus, this area is renown for the best Ukrainian-Canadian cooking anywhere; the pyrogies and cabbage rolls are to die for.