A Feeding Habit of the Cedar Waxwing
A Feeding Habit of the Cedar Waxwing
The following observations, disclosing a habit of the Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) which was unfamiliar to the writer, may perhaps be of interest to others. The note-book entry was made in the Flathead Forest, near Belton, Montana.
August 17, 1915, at Ouzel Creek, on the Middle Fork trail: I watched a Cedar Waxwing feeding berries to her full-grown young. After descending to a service-berry bush and remaining there a few seconds, the bird flew up to a dead tree, followed by the young birds, which sat in expectant attitudes near her. The parent had a red (unripe) berry in her bill and she fed this at once to one of her family. She then poked her head toward the young again, gave a little gulp, and behold! another berry was in her bill. This she gave to a youngster near her and at once produced another berry in like manner; then another and still another, until she had fed them five whole berries in succession. Although each berry was brought forth with a distinctly visible gulp it apparently did not involve much effort.
Alexander D. Dubois
Chicago, February 8, 1920
