The Bohemian Waxwing is a passerine bird that breeds in the northern forests of Eurasia and North America. It has mainly buff-grey plumage, black face markings and a pointed crest. Its wings are patterned white and bright yellow, and some feather tips have the red waxy appearance that give this species its English name. Its breeding habitat is coniferous forests, usually near water. The pair build a lined cup- shaped nest in a tree or bush for a clutch of 3–7 eggs, incubated by the female alone for 13–14 days. Many birds desert their nesting range in winter and migrate further south. Large numbers of Bohemian Waxwings sometimes travel well beyond their normal winter range in search of the fruit that makes up most of their diet. Waxwings can be very tame in winter, entering towns and gardens in search of food, rowan berries being a particular favourite. They can metabolise alcohol produced in fermenting fruit, but can still become intoxicated, sometimes fatally. The Bohemian Waxwing's high numbers and very large breeding area mean that it is classified as being of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Waxwing
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1554:
Bayinnaung, who later assembled the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, was crowned king of the Burmese Taungoo Dynasty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayinnaung
1777:
Mission Santa Clara de Asís (pictured), a Spanish mission that formed the basis of both the city of Santa Clara, California and Santa Clara University, was established. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Santa_Clara_de_As%C3%ADs
1911:
The University of the Philippines College of Law was founded, eventually graduating many of the leading Filipino political figures since then. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines_College_of_Law
1964:
Rebels led by John Okello overthrew Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah, ending 200 years of Arab dominance in Zanzibar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanzibar_Revolution
2010:
A 7.0 Mw earthquake struck Haiti, affecting an estimated three million people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
heave in sight: (nautical) To appear at a distance, to emerge in the field of vision. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/heave_in_sight
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Justice is itself the great standing policy of civil society; and any eminent departure from it, under any circumstances, lies under the suspicion of being no policy at all. --Edmund Burke https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Edmund_Burke