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Breeding Birds of the Platte River Valley

Cedar Waxwing -- (Bombycilla cedrorum)


Nebraska Status: A common migrant, uncommon winter resident, and local summer resident statewide (Johnsgard 1980). Peak migration occur 1 February to 23 April in spring and during 20 August to 31 December in fall. Cedar waxwing is known to nest in Nebraska only along the Missouri River and in the Pine Ridge area (Johnsgard 1979).

Platte River Status: A common migrant, uncommon winter resident, and rare summer resident throughout the study area. Tout (1947) recorded cedar waxwing as an irregular migrant and winter visitor in Lincoln County, present 14 September to 14 June. Rosche (1979) found cedar waxwing in the lower North Platte River Valley 11 September to 28 December; a 2 June observation was the only breeding season record reported.

Breeding Range: Apparently restricted to the Platte River Valley physiographic region during the nesting season.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 60 nesting pairs.

Habitat: We found the highest mean nesting density in residential habitats (1.7 pairs/km2), followed by 0.2 pairs/km2 in lowland forest. Stewart (1975) considered the cedar waxwing in North Dakota a characteristic breeding bird of semi-open deciduous woodland including lowland forest on river floodplains, and upland woods on river bluffs, hills and escarpments. Faanes (1983) reported that cedar waxwing in western North Dakota wooded draws were especially numerous in vegetation supporting high shrub densities.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: We believe that because of the very small number of cedar waxwings on the study area during the nesting season, habitat alteration has produced no measureable impact on this species.

Nesting Data: We have no confirmed records of nests or young from the study area. In Kansas, nesting occurs from mid June to 22 July (Johnsgard 1979). The nesting season in North Dakota extends from early June to late August (Stewart 1975).


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