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Waxwing

Waxwings
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Bombycillidae
Genus:Bombycilla
Species
Bombycilla garrulus
Bombycilla japonica
Bombycilla cedrorum

This is a group of passerine birds characterised by soft silky plumage and unique coloured tips to some of the wing feathers. These look like sealing wax, and give the group its name.

These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

They are not true long-distance migrants, but move south from their summer range in winter. In poor berry years huge numbers can erupt well beyond their normal range.

Some authorities (including the Sibley-Monroe checklist) place the silky-flycatchers, and the Hypocolius, in family Bobmycillidae along with the waxwings.