bohemian waxwing april 16 2016 DSC 2480

A Bohemian waxwing (Jaseur boreal). They are migrating back to their breeding grounds in the North and just passing through here near Montreal. A flock stayed for a week or so eating all fruit remaining on the trees after winter or fallen on the ground. This picture shows the red markings in the wing quite well, which is supposedly where the name waxwing came from as it resembles the red wax used in seals. This was late in the afternoon and the birds seemed to show a strong preference to remain in the shadows.