Dominica Botanic Gardens Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies

Source: Dominica’s Birds Photo: Gerra & Sommazi Photo: Miguel Landestoy Photo: Alfredo Colon Archilla Photo: Alfredo Colon Archilla

Description: A shy, solitary, strikingly beautiful bird, 28-30 cm long (11-12 in); is grey on head, brownish grey on back, yellowish brown on throat and golden brown on underparts; bill is long and slightly downward curving, with dark upper mandible and yellowish lower mandible; tail long with prominent alternating black and white cross markings; has black eyes and dark grey legs; feeds primarily on large insects and small lizards; is a dry coastal-forest bird; in the Gardens, can be seen primarily in the economic crops section along the Upper Garden Path; click here to listen to its calls (compliments of 3-Rivers Eco-Lodge). References: Arlington James, Stephen Durand and Bertrand Jno.Baptiste. Dominica’s Birds. Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division, Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment, Dominica, 2005 James Bond. Birds of the West Indies. Collins, St James Place, London, 4th Edition, 1979 Fred J. Alsop III. Birds of Florida. Smithsonian Handbooks, Dorling Kindersley Inc., NewYork, 2002.