Punk-crested waxwings are among the showiest birds of winter, with dusty pink plumage offset by a neat bandit mask.
The name comes from the curious little red blobs on the tips of some of their secondary wing feathers, which resemble the sealing wax of old. No-one knows what function these might have, though they might play a part in courtship.
Despite their exotic looks, however, waxwings are most likely to be confused with starlings, which are a similar size and likewise seen in flocks. The similarity is most striking in flight.
Waxwings breed in Scandinavia and Siberia, only reaching the UK in significant numbers when the berry crop fails across their home range. In these so-called 'invasion’ years, or irruptions, hungry flocks hundreds-strong arrive in northern and eastern counties.
During the biggest irruptions, the debonair visitors push south and west through the country as supplies of their favourite mountain ash (rowan) berries are exhausted.
Hungry waxwings on the hunt for fruit often turn up in trees beside town-centre car parks or busy roads, excited posts on social media tracking their every move.
Top image: waxwing. Credit: Stephen Jowett/Getty Images
More amazing animal stories from around the world
- Forget gender wars! These bizarre birds have had equality sorted for some 44 million years - watch them in action
- “If an eagle fell, I had to carry it back up without being torn apart” How one woman helped save the bald eagle
- It spans 2.7km, borders two countries and can be seen from space – and is home to one of the most daring animals on Earth
- “Millions have been released.” Hawaii’s beautiful birds are dying. But scientists have a controversial plan to save them
