Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum

The fruit-eating Cedar Waxwing has incorporated the invasive Morrow’s Honeysuckle, found in the YEW, into its diet. The fruit has become such a significant part of the Cedar Waxwing’s diet that its compounds have turned an increasing number of the tips of the birds’ tail feathers orange, from the standard yellow (Reichard et al., 2001). This is an example of how birds will adapt to what food is available when they can.