Orange Tip

© Jim Gilbert 2008 all rights reserved

This form of Cedar Waxwing was not found in North American until the 1960's. The introduction of Morrow's Honeysuckle at that time is the likely culprit, although some still argue that this is a genetic mutation. Supposedly if a Waxwing consumes the berries of this alien honeysuckle while growing out its tail feathers, the red pigment rhodoxanthin is incorporated and results in an orange rather than yellow tip. For what it's worth, the suspect plant is native to Japan and the Bombycilla japonica waxwing there has a red tip to its tail feathers.

Not much of a photo, but it was interesting to see one of these individuals in a Waxwing flock at Lord Stirling. I've read estimates ranging from 0.5 to 3% of Cedar Waxwings showing this coloration, but I very rarely see it around here. It's rather obvious in a flock seen with the naked eye. Fortunately a Red-tailed Hawk perched near by froze this flock long enough to allow a close approach with a 400 mm lens (out looking for herps) and a flash exposure.

A Google search on "orange tail cedar waxwing" makes for interesting reading.

Lord Stirling EEC, Basking Ridge, NJ