Young Cedar Waxwing with a wide open bill – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This young Cedar Waxwing may look like it is yawning, calling, or begging for food because of its wide open bill. Without the context of what happened prior to this photo being taken a person might assume that is what is going on when looking at this single image.
Before this photo was taken I watched and photographed this juvenile Cedar Waxwing catching and consuming a crane fly while I was sitting near a willow thicket high in the Wasatch Mountains almost a year ago today. The body of the crane fly, also known as a mosquito hawk, went down the waxwing’s throat easily. The legs? Not so much. The legs got stuck on the young bird’s head and bill.
In this photo one of the crane fly legs can bee seen sticking out of the top of the right side of the head of the waxwing and another is just barely visible on the left side of the gape of the waxwing’s wide open bill.
I believe the young Cedar Waxwing opened its bill as wide as it did in an attempt to dislodge the crane fly leg.
Immature Cedar Waxwing with crane fly legs in its bill – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
In this second photo both of the crane fly legs can be seen. Perhaps the leg near the bill of this immature Cedar Waxwing was annoying to the young bird. Maybe it even tickled the fleshy gape or the short feathers near the bill. I can’t say for sure.
Perched juvenile Cedar Waxwing with crane fly legs stuck on its head – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I do know from my own observations that this juvenile Cedar Waxwing kept attempting to dislodge the crane fly leg until it finally succeeded in doing so by scraping its bill on several branches and twigs before it continued foraging for prey. Watching this young Cedar Waxwing getting rid of those crane fly legs was interesting and one of the highlights of my summer morning. Photographing birds can be so much fun.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Cedar Waxwing photos plus facts and information about this species.
Love the images – and the story. Thank you.
Interesting shots indeed, Mia. On Friday I took a whole lot of pictures after I witnessed an adult Eastern Kingbird give her youngster a Dragonfly. For eight minutes this poor little thing twisted & turned it’s head and smashed the Dragonfly on the power line trying to swallow it, in one shot he almost lost his grip on the lines. Child abuse!
What a cool experience!
Thank you for sharing the story as well as the outstanding photographs.
That would be fun to watch.
Fabulous photos, sharp and so much detail. But the story in the photos is beyond fabulous! Great fun, indeed! Thanks for sharing your adventure