Not long ago I posted some shots of Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) foraging for berries. In many of those shots, however, the beautiful birds were partially obscured by vegetation. On Monday this past week I managed to get a clearer view of a Cedar Waxwing at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and captured this portrait image.
I really like the fact that this image shows the distinctive shape of this bird and its wonderful coloration. From top of its crested head to its yellow-tipped tail, the Cedar Waxwing is one of the most photogenic birds that I am privileged to photograph.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I hope they show up here this year. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they don’t. They’re as unpredictable as the robins in our area.
Dear Mike,
I agree with shoreacres. Thank you for featuring my little avian colleague.
May you and your family have a lovely Sunday!
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
Thanks so much. Have a wonderful Sunday too!
You are very welcome, Nigel.
By the way, I thought that you might be interested in one of my horticultural websites:
https://queenslandorchid.wordpress.com
I am used to their unpredictability–I never know if/when I might happen to stumble upon them. I hope you are as fortunate to have some visit you as I have been this year.
It’s lovely and a fab photo too. Thank you for sharing.
He’s a beauty and I love that your portrait of him captures the detail of his head and all the “fluff” of his plumage. I also really like the way the soft background hues connect with the soft, taupe colour of his belly.
Thanks, Laura. I was happy that the bird sat still for a moment. Normally they are busily moving about as they forage in the trees and bushes.
I like that you can see it’s eye color. Beautiful birds, for sure!
Thanks, Cheryl. I was fortunate that the light was shining from the direction that it was, because most of the time the eyes disappear into the mask and I can’t see them well at all.
Very nice Mike! Always fun to photograph Cedar Waxwings!
Beautiful bird. I love the mask like plumage on its head!
Thanks, Chris. The mask reminds me of the Lone Ranger and Zorro television series that I grew up with. 🙂
Excellent shot Mike!
Thanks.
One of the most handsome of birds!
We’re just beginning to see them here in central Florida.
Very nice photograph, Mike!
Thanks, Wally. I hope that mine stay for a little while longer. 🙂
I just love Cedar Waxwings! (I read somewhere that they are “polite”.) I know they live in Seneca Creek State Park because I have seen them once or twice there over the years, most recently this past spring. But sightings are extremely rare. Thanks for the beautiful portrait!
I only saw them once during our 18 years in Omaha: One day there were several in our highbush cranberry. It’s great to see another again.
They can strip away the berries pretty quickly and then move on. I think I can count on one hand (with maybe a few fingers on the second hand) the number of times that I have encountered them–each encounter was special.
They always remind me of Cardinals with a different wardrobe. Wish they would frequent my yard.
The shape of the crest is quite similar, though the bills are shaped a bit differently. I see cardinals a whole lot more often than cedar waxwings.