Bohemian Waxwings Words and pictures by Stan Lilley
	Late January and early February of 2008 saw the arrival of a rare species in Isabella County and several other Lower Peninsula locations as Bohemian Waxwings appeared with flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Jim Dealing reported a large flock of Cedar Waxwings seen in his neighborhood on January 31 included a few American Robins and several Bohemian Waxwings. On February 1, Ryan Dziedzic reported seeing a flock of 200 – 300 Bohemian Waxwings on crabapple trees around Brooks Hall on the Central Michigan University (CMU) campus. Doug McWhirter reported 200 waxwings, 40% being Bohemian Waxwings, around Brooks Hall. On February 3, Stan Lilley saw and photographed a flock of about 200 waxwings, including 60+ Bohemian Waxwings feeding on crabapple near Finch Hall on the CMU campus. On February 8 a flock of 30 Bohemian Waxwings was reported SW of Mt. Pleasant on Millbrook Road, 1⁄2 mile west of Whiteville Road. The same day 3 Bohemian Waxwings were reported at the Maple River State Game Area in Gratiot County, on Ranger Road a quarter mile west of Crapo Road. Other Bohemian Waxwings have been reported along Coe Road south of Shepherd in Isabella County.   With all this Bohemian Waxwing activity reported, an explanation of the difference between Bohemian and Cedar Waxwing may be useful. Bohemian Waxwing, a bird of the northwestern spruce forests, rarely appears this far east, and then even more rarely this far south into the Lower Peninsula. Jim Dealing recollects only about three reported appearances in Isabella County in the past 35 years. At about 8 inches, the Bohemian is a little larger than the common Cedar Waxwing. Perhaps the most prominent difference is the color of the undertail coverts, which are white on the Cedar and a lush chestnut on the Bohemian. This chestnut color can also be seen in the face of the Bohemian. The belly of the Cedar is yellow and that of the Bohemian is gray. Both species have yellow tail tips and the characteristic waxy red spots on the wings, but the Bohemian Waxwing also show a yellow and white pattern in the wings that is not present on Cedar Waxwing. Here are comparative photos taken by Stan Lilley on February 3, 2008 at the CMU campus:   A careful check of any waxwings seen this winter could easily result in another Bohemian Waxwing sighting. Check out the picture of the mixed flock of waxwings and see if you can identify the two types of waxwings!   Cedar Waxwing Bohemian Waxwing Mixed Flock of Waxwings

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