Illustration of waxwing
waxwing
noun
wax·wing
ˈwaks-ˌwiŋ 
: any of a genus (Bombycilla) of American and Eurasian chiefly brown to gray oscine birds (such as a cedar waxwing) having a showy crest, red waxy material on the tips of the secondaries, and a yellow band on the tip of the tail
Examples of waxwing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Their berries are an important food source for thrushes, finches, robins, and waxwings during fall and winter months.
—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
Even at 4 degrees below zero, waxwings flitted outside our room, which had a sauna large enough to be its own hotel room.
—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
The Bohemian waxwing even takes its name from its notorious penchant for booze.
—
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
The organization’s extensive landscape provides habitat for various resident and migratory birds–woodpeckers, waxwings, nuthatches, warblers, buntings, and tanagers, to name just a few.
—
Jamie Siebrase,
Denver Post,
22 May 2025
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Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
Even at 4 degrees below zero, waxwings flitted outside our room, which had a sauna large enough to be its own hotel room.
—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
The Bohemian waxwing even takes its name from its notorious penchant for booze.
—
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
The organization’s extensive landscape provides habitat for various resident and migratory birds–woodpeckers, waxwings, nuthatches, warblers, buntings, and tanagers, to name just a few.
—
Jamie Siebrase,
Denver Post,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waxwing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waxwing. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
waxwing
noun
wax·wing
ˈwak-ˌswiŋ
: any of a genus of American and Eurasian birds that are mostly brown or gray with a showy crest, velvety feathers, and sometimes red waxy material on the tip of the lower wing feathers
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