This species gets its name from the red waxy tips on the secondaries, visible at close range. Upperparts are a warm brown, grayish-brown on the wings and tail. Tail feathers are all broadly tipped with yellow forming a terminal band, that may be orange (diet-related) in some birds. The bushy crest and black mask, edged in white, are distinctive. The throat and upper breast are tawny gray-brown becoming paler on the lower breast, belly is pale yellow, fading to white on the undertail coverts. The plumage appears smooth and sleek. First year birds are nearly identical to adults, but retain juvenile flight feathers (until their second prebasic molt), thus they lack the red tips on the secondaries and they are slightly darker and warmer brown on underparts. Juveniles have little if any crest, dull gray-brown upperparts, breast and flanks marked with broad, blurry olive-gray streaks (almost solid olive-gray on breast), and center of the belly is whitish and unstreaked. In flight, their tight flocks, pointed wings and short tail suggest European Starling.

Length: 18 (cm) Wingspan: 28 (cm)

Voice:

Call is a very high squealing trill. Almost always vocal in flight.

Habitat:

Open woodland, old fields, riparian woods, residential areas.

Behavior:

Highly nomadic, usually travels in flocks.

Feeding:

Fruit makes up the bulk of the diet. Also flycatches and gleans insects.