WAXWINGS- A WINTER'S DELIGHT

OCCURRENCE, SEXING, AGEING AND GALLERY

by Ian McKerchar

SEXING AND AGEING

Whilst their identification remains pretty much trouble free, interest can be had in ageing and sexing atleast some the birds we come across and with good views of the primaries especially it's a fairly simple process, although a view such as in the photograph above wouldn't necessarily assist such matters! (Photo by Adrian Dancy)

It is important to indicate at this point, that some adult Waxwings can show overlap between the sexes. Some males can show a poorly demarcated lower edge of the throat similar to that of females and some females can show white on the inner webs of the primary tips similar to adult males, so care should be taken using a full suite of characters and any intermediate birds are best left unsexed.

Below: A plate summarising of the key features of the wing, helpful in the sexing and ageing of Waxwings. (Ink and watercolour by Ian McKerchar)

ADULT MALES

Above: A very handsome bird indeed, this edifying portrait amply displays the distinctive broad and complete white inner webs of the primary tips with both sexes of adults having bright yellow on the outer webs of the primary tips so obvious here. (Photo by Paul Hackett)

Above: Not the very sharply demarcated lower edge of the black throat against the upper breast colouration. (Photo by Paul Hackett)

Above: Pretty much all the features requisite of an adult male Waxwing are evident here: the sharply demarcated lower edge of the black throat, the very long red waxy tips on the secondaries, the broad and conspicuous complete white inner webs to the primary tips and the very broad yellow tips to the terminal end of the tail feathers. The waxy tips to the secondaries in adult males range from 6-9.5mm an in adult females from 5-7mm, but of course judging this accurately enough in the field is practically impossible! (Photo by Paul Hackett)

Above: This wonderful depiction allows us to study those beautifully marked wing feathers of this adult male in detail, especially the secondaries and their unique red waxy appendages. (Photo by Paul Hackett)

Above: The full broadness of the yellow terminal tail band is clearly apparent here and his crest is outstanding! (Photo by Paul Hackett)

ADULT FEMALES

Above: This immaculate female demonstrates typical narrow, weak and incomplete white inner webs to the primary tips, obviously rather shorter red waxy tips to the secondaries than in the above males and the lower edge of the black throat is diffuse and poorly demarcated against the upper breast. (Photo by Adrian Dancy)

Above: The yellow terminal tail band is still relatively wide but the weak white inner webs to the primary tips and rather short waxy tips to the secondaries are indicative of an adult female. (Photo by Paul Wilson)

Above: The white inner webs to the tips of the primaries are typically inconspicuous on this individual although the waxy tips to the secondaries appear relatively long. (Photo by Paul Wilson)

Above: This close up of the head shows that diffuse lower edge to the black throat to maximum effect. (Photo by Adrian Dancy)

Above: Despite her remiges and rectrices lacking the more blatant markings of the male of the species, her crest is clearly up to the job and equal to that of his. (Photo by Paul Wilson)

Above: This female not only shows the pre-requisite features of an adult female but also just how big a rose hip they can swallow! (Photo by Paul Wilson)

FIRST WINTERS

Above: There is still no doubting it's eye-catching appearance but this first winter typically portrays the complete lack of white on the inner webs to the tips of the primaries with just the appearance of a straight 'washed-out' yellow line running down the closed primaries. (Photo by Rob Smallwood)

Above: Again the lack of any white on the inner webs on the primary tips is evident and the red waxy tips to the secondaries are clearly very short indeed. In 1st winter males the longest waxy tips measure 3.5-5.5 mm, whereas on 1st winter females they measure 0-3.5mm, but clearly only the very extremes of the two should be attempted at being sexed in the field due to the inherent difficulties in accurately judging their lengths. (Photo by S.Wood)

Above: The 'washed-out' yellow line running down the closed primaries and complete lack of white of their inner webs is delightfully portrayed here. This apparent straight line is actually made up of colouration on the outer webs of the primary tips and varies from white to this rather washed out yellow and on this individual, there are only three extremely short waxy tips evident on the secondaries. First winter Waxwings are said to show 4-8 waxy tips in 1st winter males and 0-5 (perhaps occasionally 6) in 1st winter females and so we can be fairy confident this is indeed a young female, especially given the shortness of those tips. (Photo by Adrian Dancy)

Above: In this depiction, although the wing is closed the primaries are spread slightly and so the pale tips to their outer webs do not appear as a continuous straight line but the lack of white on the inner webs is clearly still palpable. (Photo by Adrian Dancy)

Above: Similar to the adult female, the lower edge of the black throat in 1st winters is diffuse and poorly demarcated from the upper breast. (Photo by Rob Smallwood)

Above: This 1st winter virtually lacks any red waxy tips to the secondaries at all and is very likely a 1st winter female. (Photo by Adrian Dancy)

Above: These two 1st winters display the full suite of features: no white on the inner webs of the primary tips, pale and weak yellowish/white line running down the primaries, virtually no red waxy tips to the secondaries (indicative of young females) and a rather narrow yellow terminal tail band (especially prominent on the left bird). (Photo by Adrian Dancy)

Above: This stunning depiction displays an obvious white line running down the primaries which lacks any yellow, archetypal extremely short red waxy tips to the secondaries and a narrow yellow terminal tail band. (Photo by Adrian Dancy)

Above: The bird in the foreground again displays the full suite of 1st winter characteristics but the bird behind appears to have a sharply demarcated throat and broad yellow tips to the tail and is likely an adult male. (Photo by Paul Hackett)

PAGE THREE OF WAXWINGS- A WINTER'S DELIGHT

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