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Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Flight call description A long, high, trilled "zeeeee" and a long, high, pure-toned "seeeee". Also a shorter, descending "sweeew".

 

Fig.1. New York August 17, 1989 (WRE).

"Zeeeee" call from bird in flight.

 

 

Fig.2. Vermont August 1, 2001 (WRE).

"Seeeee" call from perched bird.

 

 

Fig.3. New York September 8, 1989 (WRE).

"Sweeew" call from bird in flight.

 

Examples     Nocturnal

Diurnal calling sequences:

1. New York August 17, 1989 (WRE). Birds in flight giving trill call.

2. New Jersey August 20, 2000 (MO). Bird in flight giving trill call.

3. New Jersey September 5, 1998 (MO). Bird in flight giving trill call.

4. Vermont August 1, 2001 (WRE). Perched birds giving "seeeee" and trill calls. White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Black-capped Chickadee, and Gray Catbird in the background. 

5. New York August 12, 2001 (MO). Perched bird giving "sweeew" call.

6. New Jersey January 9, 2002 (MO). Flock of birds perched and in short flight.

 

Similar species See Bohemian Waxwing.

 

Behavior Known to migrate both day and night. Flight call given regularly by both perched and flying birds during the day. Rarely heard calling in nocturnal migration.