Cedar waxwings are small, elegant birds with a long crest, and smooth, silky brown plumage.

Their name comes from the “droplets” of bright red waxy pigment at the ends of their secondary wing feathers – the wing feathers nearer to the bird’s body. The function of these bright little specks is not known, but is likely related to courtship.

Cedar waxwings have been around the Bangor area all spring in flocks. I’ve been seeing them in beaver flowages, perching on dead trees and acting like flycatchers.

That is, they have been flying off their perches, snatching a flying insect and returning to their perch. The protein in insects helps cedar waxwings get themselves ready for mating, building a nest and laying eggs.

Most Maine birds nest in April, May or June, but not cedar waxwings. They wait until August. Their nesting is timed with the ripening of wild cherries and berries.

The flock finds a tree or shrub that’s loaded with berries or wild cherries. They keep trying a berry every few days, until it tastes sweet and delicious. Then they quickly strip the shrub or tree of fruit.

Then it’s time for pairs to separate somewhat – to build their nests. They are not very territorial, nor do pairs nest too closely together. Now they are traveling around in pairs, looking for a good tree in which to make their nest.

The nest is usually built on a horizontal branch, and often it is constructed of recycled material. That is, the waxwings use material found in other nests, especially kingbird nests which are no longer in use.

When cedar waxwing young hatch, their parents feed them soft insects. But within three days, the parents feed them soft, ripe berries. And within two weeks, the young are flying, clumsily landing along a branch and passing fruit up and down the line to their siblings.

The young cedar waxwings are streaked on the front, and do not have the red “droplets” on their wings that the adults have. Adults and young form flocks and rove throughout the Northeast seeking the most and best berries.

If you have a mountain ash tree in your area, toward the end of September, you may see cedar waxwings flocking to eat the berries.

In winter they may roam to Washington, D.C., or Georgia, or they may stay in Maine, eating frozen berries. They add a touch of elegance wherever they go.

For information on Fields Pond Audubon Center, call 989-2591.