We live near the center of Fort St John. Our front yard has several large spruce trees, a mountain ash and an ornamental crab. Over the years we have had a fairly regular resident population of small birds such as chickadees and sparrows. in the spring and fall we usually have a visit from apparently migrating jays. They gorge on mountain ash berries in fall and clean up the crab apples in spring. They tend to swarm, so it's been impossible to get any clear photos.
This year however, some have remained and I've been able to get a better look a them.
The males are brownish grey with a black mask, yellow tips on their tails, with yellow and red under the wings.
I've been searching the available data but have been unable to identify them. They are smaller than a bluejay but larger than a sparrrow, about the size of a very large robin.
We would really appreciate any help this forum can lend to identifying these birds.

Sounds like a flock of Cedar Waxwings, or possibly Bohemian Waxwings. Check some images from a Google search on cedar waxwings and see if those match.

Thank you very much!

You have nailed it. These are definitely Cedar Waxwings. They ignore the seed with which we sustain the small birds, in preference of the small crabapple and mountain ash
berries.
I have spent 2 years reveiwing birds common to our area and this species has never been a choice. As stated I am new to birding, (recentley retired) but have always been a great admirerer. We have a huge Raven and Bald Eagle population up here as well as a great variety of Owls. These three have always had my greatest attention but with more time on my hands I am swiftly becoming more and more interested in others.

Thanks again GMcD,

Colin

Careful, birding can be very addictive.! lol

cheers

In the winter, you would certainly have Bohemian Waxwings. Cedar Waxwings rarely overwinter that far north and you can get flocks of thousands of Bohemians. Bohemian Waxwings are slightly bigger than Cedar Waxwings, greyer in tone, have a rusty undertail, more black on the chin, and more color in the wings. Also, the call is more of a rattle compared to the thin call of a Cedar Waxwing.

Jeremy Gatten
Saanichton, B.C.