Bohemian Waxwing

1 Bohemian Waxwing Breed Overview

The Bohemian Waxwing (Bohemian Waxwing) is a small songbird, recognizable by its slender, tufted crest on top of the head; its feathers float in the breeze. The Bohemian Waxwing’s lifespan usually exceeds 5 years, with a maximum of 13 years and 6 months.

A black band runs from the base of the beak through the eye to the back of the head, sitting on either side of the crest and very striking against the chestnut-brown head. The chin and throat are black; the wings have white wing patches; the secondary flight feathers end in red drop-shaped spots. The tail has a black subterminal band and a yellow tip. Its features are very distinctive, it is numerous, its form is graceful, and its song is soft—making it an ornamental bird in winter gardens.

Chinese Name: Bohemian Waxwing

Chinese Aliases: Twelve-yellow, Connecting Bird, Large Bohemian Waxwing

English Name: Bohemian Waxwing

Binomial: Bombycilla garrulus

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Paridae

Genus: Parus

Species: Bohemian Waxwing

Distribution: Inner Mongolia, central and southern Northeast China, Hebei, south to Shandong and Jiangsu, west to Sichuan; occasionally seen in Xinjiang, Gansu, and Fujian.

2 Physical Characteristics of the Bohemian Waxwing

The ideal adult Bohemian Waxwing body length is 18 cm, ideal wingspan 34–35 cm, ideal weight 40–64 g. The waxwing’s lifespan is comparable to that of a pet dog, averaging about 13 years. The adult male: forehead and front of crown chestnut, fading to lighter toward the back; hind crown and feather shafts grayish chestnut-brown; a black band runs from the base of the upper beak, in front of the eye, around the eye, to behind the eye.

3 Bohemian Waxwing Living Environment

In the wild, the Bohemian Waxwing mainly inhabits coniferous forests. It is not strange or surprising to find this bird in your yard or a park—it is perfectly normal. For a domestically kept Bohemian Waxwing, first set up a suitable living environment, then begin the taming process.

After about a week of taming, it can be put into a Hwamei (Chinese thrush) open cage; at first also half-cover the cage with a cloth so it adapts gradually.

Choose large-sized food and water pots. In addition, a sand tray should be provided in the cage for the bird to peck fine sand, aiding digestion. When keeping them, note that they can be put directly into a large flight cage—a cage 3 m high, 4 m long, and 3 m wide can house about 20 birds. One-third of the cage top should be covered against rain, and good shade is needed in summer.

The Bohemian Waxwing loves cleanliness and should be given water baths often to keep its feathers and feet clean. Once a day in summer, every three days in spring and autumn, and once a week in winter. First put the bird into a bathing cage, then immerse it in a water basin; the water depth should submerge the leg bend or just touch the belly feathers. In winter the water temperature should be kept at 20–22°C. After the bath, hang the cage in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot so the feathers dry quickly. The Bohemian Waxwing does not need to be taken out for walks every day; when you have time you can take it to the countryside or a park among the trees for a stroll, letting it sing freely and enjoy the fresh air of nature.

4 Bohemian Waxwing Care Knowledge

The Bohemian Waxwing is a cold-hardy but heat-intolerant bird. Waxwings kept in the south need special care in the hot summer. The waxwing defecates a lot, so waste must be cleared promptly. Most importantly, this bird has the habit of looking for food in its droppings, which is greatly harmful to its health—pay special attention when keeping it.

The Bohemian Waxwing is gentle and not very afraid of people. In spring, waxwings can be seen in both Qinhuangdao city and countryside. The waxwing’s cage should have a food pot and a sand pot for the little waxwing to peck fine sand, aiding its digestive system.

In summer, protect the Bohemian Waxwing from heat; give it a water bath once a day to keep feathers and feet clean, and hang the cage in a cool, shaded place. In summer, switch its feed to mung bean powder and duck egg to help relieve heat. The Bohemian Waxwing does not need daily walks; when you have time, take it to the countryside or a park among the trees for a stroll, letting it sing freely and enjoy nature’s fresh air.

You can put the Bohemian Waxwing into a bathing cage, then immerse it in a water basin; the water depth should submerge the leg bend or just touch the belly feathers. In winter the water temperature should be kept at 20–22°C. After the bath, hang the cage in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot so the feathers dry quickly.

5 Bohemian Waxwing Feeding Guidelines

The main reason the Bohemian Waxwing is so popular is not only its beautiful appearance but, importantly, its smart little head and instinct for learning, which is very appealing. Therefore the Bohemian Waxwing has long been a traditional cage bird in China. So what does a domestically kept Bohemian Waxwing mainly eat to grow?

The Bohemian Waxwing has strong cold tolerance but fears heat, especially in the south; pay special attention to summer care—keep it clean, keep cages clean, feed fresh food, and provide clean drinking water. Guard against heat and ensure ventilation; hang the cage in a ventilated, shaded place, never in direct sun. It is best to switch to a mixed feed of mung bean powder and duck egg to relieve heat.

For first-time keepers of a little Bohemian Waxwing, rest assured—keeping this little waxwing is not difficult. A newly caught little Bohemian Waxwing can be kept in a Hwamei cage or a myna cage; you should first tie its wings to reduce energy consumption.

For a newly caught little Bohemian Waxwing’s first entry into a cage, it is recommended to feed: a powder made of 10% soybean powder, 50% corn flour, 30% boiled egg, and 10% meat paste. After it starts eating, move it to a Hwamei cage and feed a powder of egg rice plus 10% soybean powder, 20% mung bean powder, 60% corn flour, and 10% meat paste, or a powder of mung bean or corn flour mixed with boiled egg yolk, ground together and moistened with water before feeding.