ORCID
0000-0002-0976-9903 (O'Brien); 0000-0003-2765-7021 (Sweet); 0000-0003-4104-1899 (S.A.Smith); 0000-0003-4556-5307 (Lau)
Document Type
Article
DOI
10.25778/G4Y5-3P93
Abstract
While investigating the cause of death in a cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) mortality event in March 2024 in Roanoke, Virginia, we collected parasites, investigated gizzard contents, and described demography. The group of 20 was slightly male-dominated (12/20) and only contained two adults (after second year - both females). We recovered 46 ectoparasites from 16 of 20 individuals and reported two species of feather mites (Proctophyllodes ampelidis [N=37] and Analges integer [N=5]), one oribatid mite, two spider mites (order Trombidiformes), and one unknown mite (likely immature oribatid). We recovered no endoparasites. This mortality event provided a sample size that would otherwise be difficult to capture or collect and provided baseline natural history data for a common migratory species.
Recommended Citation
Powers, K. E., W. W. Sadler, A. J. Carter-Martin, G. C. Smith, G. W. Tieskotter, K. E. Wheeler, M. T. Close, S. O'Brien, P. B. Pavel, A. D. Sweet, S. A. Smith, and J. K. Lau. 2025. Investigating the Demography and Parasites of Spring-Migrating Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) in Virginia After a Single-Day Mortality Event. Virginia Journal of Science 76 (1): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.25778/G4Y5-3P93