The Bohemian waxwing is a spectacular winter visitor from northern Europe whose irruption years bring spectacular flocks to Britain when rowan and other berry crops fail in Scandinavia, creating both welfare opportunities and risks for birds in urban settings.
Waxwing welfare during UK irruptions is generally positive because they arrive to exploit abundant urban berry supplies where natural supplies have failed elsewhere. The primary welfare risk is window and vehicle collision as naive birds unfamiliar with urban environments encounter glass and traffic. Road mortality while feeding on street rowans is documented during heavy irruption years. Cat predation of birds feeding low on urban berry bushes is an additional welfare concern.