They do in the fall, too. (And most birds switch to insects during breeding season - orioles are a perfect example)
My mom and I had the amazing experience of kayaking on a boundary waters lake w a flock of them. It was in a quiet cove and the birds were all around us catching insects on the wings just like swallows. We could hear their beaks snapping. One even perched on my mom’s kayak tip for a minute or so as a breather.
________________________________
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of Norman Budnitz <carolinabirds...>
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 5:36:25 PM
To: Dwayne Martin <redxbill...>
Cc: Brian Pendergraft <bkpendergraft...>; <carolinabirds...> <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...><mailto:<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...><mailto:<redxbill...>
On Wed, Apr 10, 2024 at 6:02 PM Brian Pendergraft <carolinabirds...><mailto:<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
