Date: 4/10/24 3:37 pm From: Norman Budnitz (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Cedar Waxwings - Hawking Behavior
Though waxwings are almost exclusively fruit-eaters in winter, they switch
over to insects as the weather warms. Fruits become more scarce and insects
(and other arthropods like spiders) become much more numerous. Baby
waxwings need lots of protein to grow fast and get out of the nest as
quickly as possible. So, hawking for insects is definitely worth the effort.
The same pattern is true for other winter fruit-eaters like bluebirds and
robins.
Norm
On Wed, Apr 10, 2024 at 6:16 PM Dwayne Martin <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> I have seen them hawking insects many times at Ridge Junction on the Blue
> Ridge Parkway from the tops of spruce trees.
>
> Dwayne
> *************
> Dwayne Martin
> Hickory, NC
> <redxbill...>
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 10, 2024 at 6:02 PM Brian Pendergraft <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> I’ve had waxwings EVERY evening and on weekend mornings when I’m not
>> working…..show me a hawking behavior.
>> I know they are typically berry and fruit eaters. and they don’t appear
>> to be catching insects whilst in flight.
>> My guess is the males showing off for the females but it’s only a guess.
>> And i’m not that smart.
>> Any of the smarter folks got an opinion on this? I realize it’s
>> migration start up and this subject may be boring to most but i thought i
>> would see if anyone else
>> notices this.
>>
>> Come on warblers!
>>
>> Brian Pendergraft
>> Falls Lake NC
>> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
