Bombycilla

Bombycilla 

(waxwing), a genus of birds of the order Passeriformes. The short-legged body is 15–18 cm long and covered with soft plumage, which is brownish gray with reddish tones. There is a crest on the head. The genus includes three species, which are distributed in Northern Europe, Asia, and North America. The USSR has two species: the Bohemian waxwing (B. garrulus) and the Japanese waxwing (B. japonica). The Bohemian waxwing, an inhabitant of the northern forest zone, has a brown crest and a yellow-tipped tail. The Japanese waxwing has a red-tipped tail and an admixture of black feathers in the crest; it is found in southeast Yakutia, along the lower course of the Amur River, and in the northern Primor’e. Waxwings are migratory birds and live in flocks; they inhabit coniferous and mixed forests. The birds nest in trees. A clutch contains three to five eggs, which are incubated for 14 days. Waxwings feed on berries, small fruits, and insects. They catch insects in flight, in the same manner as flycatchers.