Brooklyn Boro

Bird of the day: February 10

February 11, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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A Cedar Waxwing, seen recently at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Member of the Passerine order, which includes more than half of bird species: they have three toes forward, one backward. (Non-passerines have two toes forward, one backward.) The name “Waxwing” refers to wax-like wingtips. Scientific name: Bombycilia cedrorum. In no danger of extinction, they love fruit. Over-ripe berries that have fermented in the sun have intoxicated flocks of cedar waxwings, causing them to crash into windows. Waxwings also eat beetles, ants, and caterpillars. One avid birder, an artist who specializes in bird paintings, told the Eagle: “Flocks of Cedar Waxwings are like a band of pirates. They will descend on a tree or bush like an air raid and consume every single berry… then they all go out drinking — water, that is.” Photo by Heather Wolf, author of BIRDING AT THE BRIDGE. Join the Eagle family of supporters and get daily updates and features (like bird of the day).

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