Waxwings

The Waxwings are a small group of sleek birds with a crest on their heads and smooth feathers. All three types have a unique feature: red, wax-like tips on some of their wing feathers, which look like drops of sealing wax. These friendly birds usually gather in flocks and often visit trees and bushes full of berries in winter. The Waxwings live across northern parts of the world, including areas with cool to very cold climates. In Britain, they come irregularly in winter from countries like Scandinavia and Russia. The number of Waxwings seen can change a lot from year to year depending on how much food is available where they breed. Waxwings prefer to breed in open forests made up of pine trees and mixed types of trees. However, outside the breeding season, they move around a lot and often show up in towns and suburbs. They are attracted to places with garden plants that have plenty of berries, especially in years when they travel more widely in search of food.