Bird, bug, butterfly and a wild variety of photos from Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain by Irish wildlife photographer Patrick J. O'Keeffe and invited guests

Sunday 16 December 2012

BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulous) December 2012, at Kilbarrack, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 
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Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls
 
The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is of the family Bombycillidae which is in the genus Bombycilla.  
This eruptive species breeds in the coniferous forests of North America and Eurasia. Northern populations migrate to spend the winter in the southern parts of its home range. In years when there is a poor winter berry crop in northern latitudes, all of the population disperses further south and can be found either singly or in flocks feeding on berries or rose hips in parks, gardens and along hedgerows. In Ireland, Bohemian Waxwing is an irregular or scarce winter visitor from Scandinavia.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds