Cedar waxwings are medium-sized songbirds found widely across North America. They are highly social birds often seen in large flocks. Cedar waxwings are omnivorous and will eat fruit as well as insects. Their diet consists mainly of fruit including berries from trees and shrubs. They supplement their fruit diet with protein from insects especially during the breeding season when they need extra nutrients to raise their young. This raises the question – do cedar waxwings like mealworms? Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle and are commonly used as bird food. Here we will examine the diet and foraging behavior of cedar waxwings to determine if mealworms are a food they would naturally eat in the wild.
The Diet of Cedar Waxwings
Cedar waxwings eat a predominately fruit-based diet. Their name comes from the waxy red tips on some of their wing feathers which look like sealing wax. Fruit makes up over 50% of their annual diet. During winter they rely almost exclusively on fruit when insect populations decline. They forage for small fruit in trees and bushes by plucking them directly off the branches. Some of their favorite fruits include:
- Juniper berries
- Serviceberries
- Mulberries
- Hackberries
- Mistletoe berries
- Holly berries
- Hawthorn and crabapple fruits
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Cherries
They also occasionally eat flower petals and sap. When fruit is scarce, cedar waxwings switch to eating more insects. Some common insects in their diet include:
- Caterpillars
- Ants
- Beetles
- Flies
- Grasshoppers
- Crickets
- Spiders
- Dragonflies
The percentage of insects in their diet increases during the summer breeding season to help meet the protein requirements of growing nestlings.
Mealworms as a Natural Food Source
Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor. They are commonly used as feeder insects for pets and livestock. In the wild, mealworms feed on stored grains and cereals. Three traits of mealworms lead us to conclude they likely represent a natural food source for cedar waxwings:
- Mealworms are native across the range of the cedar waxwing. The mealworm originated in Europe and has now spread to inhabit similar environments worldwide. Their distribution overlaps with the widespread range of cedar waxwings in North America.
- Mealworms live in similar habitats as cedar waxwings. In the wild, mealworm larvae infest stores of grain, cereals, and bird seed. This puts them in close proximity to many of the same human-made environments where cedar waxwings occur such as farms, orchards, and backyards.
- Mealworms match the size and type of insect prey taken by cedar waxwings. Mealworms grow to around 2.5 cm long which falls within the range of insects eaten by waxwings. Cedar waxwings hawk flying insects from perches and also glean crawling insects from foliage. The movement and size of mealworms makes them a suitable prey item using these foraging tactics.
Given the above facts, mealworms closely resemble natural insect prey both in their morphology and habitat locations frequented by cedar waxwings. This supports the conclusion that waxwings would recognize them as potential food in the wild.
Evidence of Mealworm Consumption
Several sources confirm that cedar waxwings readily eat mealworms when offered to them. Mealworms are soft-bodied which makes them easy for waxwings to crush and swallow.
Observations from Bird Rehabilitators
Wildlife rehabilitators that care for injured cedar waxwings often feed them mealworms to provide the protein needed for healing and growth. Rehabilitator observations indicate waxwings actively pursue offered mealworms and have a strong feeding response to them. Mealworms elicit foraging behaviors like those waxwings use to catch wild insects.
Backyard Bird Feeding Observations
People who feed mealworms to wild birds in their backyards have noted that cedar waxwings will come to mealworm feeders. Some visitors have observed waxwings feeding from dishes of dried mealworms placed out daily. They often compete with other bird species at these feeders to grab their share of worms. Their feeding activity shows they recognize mealworms as a palatable food.
Use in Captive Diets
Zoos and aviaries that keep cedar waxwings include mealworms as a standard part of their diet. Mealworms provide essential amino acids and fat to captive waxwings. Keepers report waxwings readily eating both live and dried mealworms offered in dishes daily as a part of their menu. Their acceptance of mealworms in captive settings indicates waxwings find them a suitable food item.
How Cedar Waxwings Forage for Mealworms
Cedar waxwings use a variety of foraging techniques to capture insect prey that would also apply to hunting mealworms:
- Hawking – Catching insects in midair by sallying out from a perch to grasp prey and returning to the perch to eat it.
- Gleaning – Plucking stationary or slow-moving insects off of leaves, branches and trunks of trees.
- Probing – Using their bill to probe into crevices and holes in wood to extract hidden insects.
- Hovering – Hovering briefly in front of foliage to pick insects off vegetation.
Based on these tactics, waxwings would likely show the following behaviors when foraging for mealworms:
- Hawking mealworms by catching them in the air when offered from a feeder.
- Gleaning dried mealworms from dishes and trays of mealworms put out for birds.
- Probing through containers and boxes that contain mealworms to find ones hidden in the substrate.
- Hovering over leaves and logs where live mealworms crawl around to pick them off.
Their versatility in employing different hunting techniques allows waxwings to take advantage of mealworms in diverse situations.
Benefits of Mealworms in Cedar Waxwing Diet
Adding mealworms to a cedar waxwing’s diet provides it with several key benefits:
- High in protein – Mealworms contain about 20% protein content by weight, giving waxwings a protein boost.
- Healthy fats – Mealworm fat provides linoleic acid and other fatty acids waxwings need for energy and cell maintenance.
- Vitamins and minerals – Mealworms supply vitamins like A, C, and B complex as well as minerals such as calcium and zinc.
- Water source – The moisture in mealworms helps waxwings meet their daily water intake needs.
- Convenient food source – Mealworm dishes offer waxwings an abundant, easily acquired source of nutrition in backyards and bird feeders.
Therefore, mealworms represent a nutritious supplementary food for cedar waxwings that provides protein and other nutrients they especially require during the breeding season. Even when fruit is plentiful, mealworms give waxwings extra fat and nutrients that support their high metabolism.
Risks of Overfeeding Mealworms
While mealworms offer beneficial nutrition for waxwings, there are some risks to overfeeding them mealworms that should be considered:
- May become conditioned to rely on mealworms rather than diverse natural foods.
- Excessive protein and fat from mealworms could cause obesity and health problems.
- Mealworms lack phytonutrients found in wild fruits that provide health benefits.
- Mealworms from pet stores may contain harmful contaminants or low nutrition.
- Congregating at artificial worm feeders could increase disease transmission.
To balance these risks, waxwings should be encouraged to also continue eating diverse natural foods in the wild to maintain optimal health. Mealworms are best offered occasionally as a supplement, not a diet staple. With moderation, mealworms can be a safe part of a waxwing’s complete diet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cedar waxwings do enjoy eating mealworms when given access to them based on direct observations of waxwings foraging for mealworms. Mealworms provide a good source of essential protein, fat, vitamins and minerals for waxwings. Their size and habitat make them a natural insect prey that waxwings are adapted to hunt using various foraging techniques. Mealworms can provide a beneficial supplemental food source for waxwings especially during nesting season if offered in moderation along with diverse fruits, berries and other insects. They should not form the sole or majority of the diet to avoid potential health risks. Overall, mealworms can serve as a nutritious component of the omnivorous diet of cedar waxwings.