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waxwing
noun
wax·wing
ˈwaks-ˌwiŋ
: any of a genus (Bombycilla) of American and Eurasian chiefly brown to gray oscine birds (such as a cedar waxwing) having a showy crest, red waxy material on the tips of the secondaries, and a yellow band on the tip of the tail
Examples of waxwing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Their nutrient-rich berries are favorites for fruit-eating birds, including robins, thrushes, waxwings, and orioles.
—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2024
When fruiting, these trees attract cardinals, robins, waxwings, and many other songbirds.
—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2024
Many of the trees were ornamental – flowering beasts with spliced genes that made fruit so hard and sour the waxwings couldn’t eat it.
—Various Staff Writers, Special Correspondents, and Special Contributors, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Dec. 2023
Read full article Berkshire County: A golden eagle at Bartholomew’s Cobble, more than 10 bohemian waxwings among 120 cedar waxwings in downtown North Adams, a cackling goose at the Great Barrington Airport and three American wigeons and a ruddy duck at Pontoosuc Lake in Pittsfield.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2023
Invasive starlings, bigger and more aggressive than the waxwing, continue to grow in population, which could potentially push out the Bohemian waxwing in Anchorage, Sinnott said.
—Morgan Krakow, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Feb. 2023
Two reports of golden eagles in western Massachusetts came in along with small numbers of bohemian waxwings continuing to be seen among a large flock of cedar waxwings in North Adams.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2023
But waxwings have adapted.
—Morgan Krakow, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Feb. 2023
And in Plymouth, a bohemian waxwing near the St. Bonaventure Catholic Church natural area and 10 red crossbills at the Indian Brook Conservation Area.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Dec. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'waxwing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1817, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing waxwing
Articles Related to waxwing
Dictionary Entries Near waxwing
Cite this Entry
“Waxwing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waxwing. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
waxwing
noun
wax·wing
ˈwak-ˌswiŋ
: any of a genus of American and Eurasian birds that are mostly brown or gray with a showy crest, velvety feathers, and sometimes red waxy material on the tip of the lower wing feathers
More from Merriam-Webster on waxwing
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about waxwing
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