Changing weather patterns here in Nova Scotia have made the identification of Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings a little more difficult. At one time, we saw only Bohemians in winter and only Cedars in summer. In recent years, however, milder winters have led to small numbers of Cedar Waxwings being present here during the winter months.

Both species are approximately 19 centimetres long with a crested head and a black mask. Both birds also have a wide yellow band that runs across the end of their tail. Once you become familiar with both species, you may be able to quickly separate the two by noticing that the Bohemian Waxwing's body is broader and greyer than its cousin. Bohemians can also be distinguished by a distinct rusty red patch under their tails, and wings that have a horizontal white patch and a vertical yellow stripe, all features which are absent on the Cedar Waxwing.

If you see a flock of waxwings in winter, in most cases the birds in question will be Bohemians but look closely as there may be one or two Cedar Waxwings in the flock as well. Bohemians are also sometimes mistaken for female Northern Cardinals as they have a cardinal-like crest that shows some red on it. A good way to separate the two is to note the colour of the bill: Bohemian Waxwings have black bills while female Northern Cardinals have larger red bills.

Bohemian Waxwings are western birds but during the winter months, they gather in large flocks and wander across the country in search of berry bushes. A few birds always make it as far as Nova Scotia but in some winters large numbers enter the province. We call those winters "Waxwing Winters." To spot a flock of waxwings, keep your eyes on bushes that are sporting berries. Waxwings love any type of berry and visit favourite bushes repeatedly until most of the berries are eaten. Then they move on to find more berry bushes. A good trick you can use to tell if birds have been visiting a particular bush is to check to see if the snow or earth under it has red stains.