Bohemian lunch

Mike Richeson/Bigfork Eagle

The wild world of waxwings

A huge flock of the busy birds congregated along the Bridge Street bridge and feasted on fruits still hanging on trees. They even attacked an apple tree and enjoyed last fall’s leftovers.

The bohemian waxwing is a mainstay in the far northwest, summering in spruce forests and bogs. Winter flocks visit the prairie provinces of Canada and the northern Rockies. Although they usually travel in large flocks, the occasional lone bohemian will wander far afield.

The birds grow to about seven inches and are gray with chestnut undertails, yellow and white patterns on their wings and red patches above their eyes. Their trills are easily recognizable and loud.

Berries and small fruits are the food of choice for the bohemian. They are ravenous little creatures, and a large flock can strip bushes in minutes. They also frequent trees with leftover apples.

The name “bohemian” refers to the nomadic movements of winter flocks, reminiscent of the unconventional lifestyle of the gypsies. The bohemian waxwing does not maintain official breeding territories, probably because the fruits it eats are abundant but only for short periods. One consequence of its non-territorial lifestyle is that the bird doesn’t have a true song. It does not need one to defend a territory.

Only three species of waxwings exist: the bohemian, the Japanese and the cedar. Cedar waxwings, which also inhabit our area, differ in that they don’t have white edges to the wing, are less gray (more yellow) and are without the red coloring on their heads.