The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a sleek, crested songbird occasionally found in Arizona, most often in winter and during migration. These birds are recognized by their silky plumage, black mask, and yellow-tipped tail, with adults also showing distinctive red wax-like tips on the wing feathers. In Arizona, they are considered irregular winter visitors, wandering widely in flocks in search of berries, their primary food source. They are most often encountered in riparian corridors, urban areas with ornamental fruiting trees, and foothill woodlands. While not abundant or regular breeders in the state, Cedar Waxwings play an important role as dispersers of seeds, especially for native and ornamental berry-producing plants.
