There was a mixed flock of waxwings in Metropolitan Downtown Etna yesterday afternoon. I only had two short chances to photograph them. The first was 3 minutes in duration and the second was less than 10 seconds. The waxwings could not have cared less about me, but they sure didn’t like huge trucks racing by a yard or two away along the Etna Road. They scattered to the tops of a large tree the first time and then for parts unknown the second.
The vast majority of the flock consisted of Bohemian Waxwings, likely visiting the area from Canada or far northern New England. They breed in the arctic of NW Canada and Alaska. I counted roughly 15 waxwings and only saw one Cedar Waxwing.
I find the easiest way to tell a bohemian from a cedar is by the rufous butt, technically the undertail coverts, on the bohemian.
Here are a few more photos. They look especially dramatic when they raise their crest.
