About the waxwing
With their prominent crest, pinkish hues, black mask and gaudy red-and-yellow wing markings, the waxwing is a wildlife photographer’s dream when combined with an aesthetic branch of rowan berries.
Location Waxwings first appear in the north-east of the UK in November, then spread south and west, returning to breeding grounds in March.
Size Waxwings measure 19-23cm, with a 32-35.5cm wingspan.
Nest A cup-shaped nest will be placed in trees or shrubs in coniferous forests, often near water. In Europe, these birds breed in Scandinavia and across northern Russia.
Diet During the winter, which is when you are most likely to see them, waxwings feed on fruit and berries, particularly rowan, hawthorn, cotoneaster and rose.
Population Numbers vary depending on food availability, but the average winter population is…
