» For the Seattle band featuring Rocky Votolato, see Waxwing (band). For the Detroit band featuring Dean Fertita, see The Waxwings. The waxwings form the genus Bombycilla of passerine birds. According to most authorities, this's the only genus placed in the family Bombycillidae. Description Waxwings are characterised by soft silky plumage. (Bombycilla, the genus name,'s Vieillot's attempt at Latin for "silktail", translating the German name Seidenschwänze.) They've unique red tips to some… (More on Waxwing)