Waxwings in the UK: when they come and where to find them

When do waxwings arrive in the UK?

Waxwings breed in the forests of Scandinavia and western Russia, and they don't breed in the UK. They come here in winter, but not every winter in the same numbers.

Waxwings usually arrive in the UK in October, with the main wave in November or later in an irruption year. The Wildlife Trusts say the first waxwings are often seen in October, usually in the north of the UK and along the east coast. In an irruption year the main arrival comes in November or later, and the birds filter slowly south and west through the country. The BTO says they can stay into early spring.

What is a waxwing irruption?

An irruption is a winter when waxwings come in large numbers. The BTO says these movements are triggered by a poor crop of rowan berries in Norway: when there isn't enough food at home, the birds move south and west to find it.

The difference between years is huge. The RSPB says that in some winters only a few hundred waxwings reach the UK, and in others, thousands do. The BTO's estimate for an average winter is about 10,000 (2012 to 2017), and it names the autumns of 2008 and 2010 as big irruptions.

So if you've never seen one, it may not be you. In a quiet winter there are very few to find.

Where can you see waxwings?

Follow the berries. The Wildlife Trusts say waxwings go for the colourful red and orange berries of ornamental trees, especially rowan, and suggest checking:

• supermarket car parks
• out-of-town shopping areas and retail parks
• city centres and streets with berry trees

The RSPB says your best chance is in northern and eastern England, and that waxwings often turn up on suburban streets lined with berry bushes.

How do you find a flock of waxwings?

• Listen. The Wildlife Trusts describe the call as a rolling trill, like the tinkling of a small bell. You'll often hear a flock before you spot it.
• Look up. Waxwings sit together at the tops of trees, then drop down to a berry tree to feed.
• Check the bird news. Local bird clubs and bird news services report waxwing flocks as they arrive. In an irruption year you can watch the sightings filter through the country as the winter goes on.

What does a waxwing look like?

The RSPB says a waxwing is a plump bird, slightly smaller than a starling. Up close it's unmistakable. The Wildlife Trusts list:

• a pink crest and breast
• a black mask and throat
• a grey rump
• a black tail tipped with bright yellow
• yellow-and-white markings on the wings

The name comes from the red tips on some wing feathers, which look like drops of sealing wax.

Watching and photographing waxwings

Waxwings feed in busy car parks and streets, so you rarely need to get close. A few things help them, and you:

• Stay on the pavement. Car parks and gardens are private land: ask first.
• Don't flush them. Every flight costs energy, and they need the berries to get through the winter. Stand back and let the flock come down to the tree.
• Be patient. A feeding flock often comes back to the same tree, so pick a spot with the light behind you and wait.

Are waxwings rare?

In the UK, yes: the Wildlife Trusts call them a rare winter visitor that can turn up anywhere, particularly in the north and east. But they're not a bird in trouble. Waxwings are on the Green List of birds of conservation concern, and the IUCN lists them as Least Concern. What makes them special here is that you can't count on them. In some winters they're in car parks across the country; in others you'd be lucky to see one.