Overview
The Japanese waxwing (Bombycilla japonica) is a fairly small passerine bird in the waxwing family found in the eastern Palaearctic, where it breeds south of the breeding range of the related Bohemian waxwing, but overlaps extensively with it in winter. It feeds mainly on fruit and berries but also eats insects during the summer. The nest is a cup of twigs lined with grass and moss which is built in a tree. In males, the secondary wing feathers have red tips, the resemblance of which to sealing wax gives these birds their common name.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds southeastern Siberia and northern Manchuria; winters to southern China and Ryukyu Islands (southern Japan).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Japanese waxwing
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
Keep exploring
