This was one of those birds that I have known about for a long time and have seen plenty of photos of but had not actually seen in person before. On that note, I was not even aware that there were multiple species of waxwings. There are, in fact, three - the cedar waxwing, Bohemian waxwing and Japanese waxwing. In New Hampshire, there are opportunities to see the cedar and Bohemian (although the Bohemian variety is a non-breeding species in the state) waxwings.

Well known for their distinctively smooth feathers, I must admit that my first photos of these birds do a poor job of showcasing this effectively. The eight or so birds that flew in all appeared somewhat rumpled as they hopped about the branches of a tree. This was the biggest reason that I was unsure with the identification of them at the time. This is a beautiful bird that I am looking forward to seeing and photographing again in the future.

An interesting fact about these birds is that they consume large quantities of fruit and berries, more so than most species. They can often be found flocking around stands of berry laden shrubs and bushes. Their love for berries can pose somewhat of a risk to these birds though, as they have been known to become intoxicated from overripe and fermented fruit.