There are several different types of waxwing; in the UK you are most likely to see the ‘Bohemian waxwing’.
These berry-loving, colourful birds from Northern Europe, sometimes venture into the UK during winter if there is a shortage of food in their Scandinavian breeding grounds.
They are often mistaken for starlings due to the triangular shape of their wings.
Both female and male waxwings grow to around 20cm in length and are reddish-brown in colour. Look out for their distinctive head crests and yellow-tipped tails. They have black, white and red wing markings; their black throats stand out underneath black mask shapes around their eyes.
During years when there is a shortage of berries, flocks of waxwings will descend through Europe heading south and westward. Occasionally the need for food sees them arrive on the east coast of Britain from Scotland down to East Anglia. As the crop of berries is depleted they will move further inland.
During the winter, waxwings can always be found in flocks, often collecting in berry trees, of which rowan and
hawthorn are particular favourites. Waxwings can often be found in urban areas as these berry trees are frequently found in supermarket car parks and along suburban roads.
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