Waxwing of Britain and Ireland
The Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, is an attractive and brightly coloured bird who is slightly smaller than a starling.
Large flocks of Waxwing fly to Britain and Ireland in the autumn from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and Siberia. They return to their breeding areas in the spring as they do not breed in Britain and Ireland.
Adults are exotic-looking birds with a reddish-brown and grey rump. There is a small black mask across the face as well as a black bib.
Waxwings earned their name “from the shade of red that tips their wings which has been likened to red sealing wax” [Irish Times – see below). They are sometimes called the Bohemian Waxwing.
Waxwings are sociable birds who spend their time in small groups or large flocks. Their typical haunts are the tops of trees in any type of habit where there are berries on bushes and trees.
Most are seen in gardens, parks, shopping centres and car parks in towns and cities. Fewer Waxwings are found in the countryside such as orchards, villages and the sides of roads.
The main winter food is a wide variety of berries. They are particularly fond of the berries of rowan, hawthorn and whitebeam.
Other kinds of berries include those from roses and cotoneaters as well as fruit such as apples and seeds.
Flocks of Waxwings often forage for food near humans in towns and cities. They prefer urban environments as the berries in the countryside have been eaten by blackbirds, fieldfares and thrushes.
Waxwings arrive on the east coast of Britain and Ireland in the autumn, or between October and November, from northern Scandinavia and Siberia. They move rapidly inland and are found in most areas where there are fruit-bearing bushes and trees.
Wintering Waxwings leave Britain and Ireland in the spring and are not generally seen after March.
An estimated 10,000 wintering Waxwings arrive in Britain each autumn. However, the number varies according to the crop of berries available.
The majority of Waxwings are found in Scotland and the north-east of England. The second-highest concentration can be found in the west Midlands in England.
“Aberdeen can be regarded as the UK's capital city of Waxwings. Its location in relation to southwest Norway” Waxwings in Scotland move southwards to England as the winter progresses [Birdguides – see below).
Fewer Waxwings are seen in Ireland and generally found in the north and east of Ireland.
There are sometimes irruptions because of a lack of rowan berries on the wintering grounds in Scandinavia and central Europe. The frequency of irruptions has increased over the last 20 years according to the RSPB.
The unusually cold weather in Europe during 2017 brought large numbers of Waxwings to the east coast of Britain and Ireland. A failure of a crop of berries in England can cause large numbers of Waxwings to arrive in Ireland.
The largest flocks in Ireland are between 150 and 400 birds [Irish Times - https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/europe-s-big-freeze-sends-flocks-of-waxwings-to-ireland-1.2938101 ).
Flocks of over a 1000 Waxings have been recorded in Britain.
The RSPB advised gardeners to help Waxwings by planting rowans and other fruit-bearing trees in their gardens. Pruning shrubs and trees should also be left until the berries on the branches have been eaten.
The Waxwing is a green-listed species of bird in Britain and Ireland.
The Waxwing is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.
Europe holds 15% of the global population of Waxwings and the population was described as “strong increasing” between 1980 and 2013.
For more information on the birds of the gardens and countryside of Britain and Ireland, please visit,
Interesting Articles
Birdguides: The vagaries of Waxwing migration: https://www.birdguides.com/articles/migration/the-vagaries-of-waxwing-migration/
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