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Dominica Botanic Gardens
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    • Introduction to Website
    • A Brief History
    • Plan of Gardens
    • Contemporary Commentary
  • Botanic Gardens
    • Selected Trees and Shrubs
    • Medicinal Plants
    • Gardens Activities
    • Florida's Fairchild Garden
    • Parrot and Small Animal Sanctuary
    • Birds of the Gardens
    • Three Virtual Tours
    • Panoramic Views Today
    • Early Panoramic Views
    • Hurricane David's Ravages
    • Future Developments
    • Curators and Administrators
    • Reports and Documents
    • Getting Involved
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    • Diaspora Policy Paper
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Birds of the Botanic Gardens

​American Kestrel: Falco sparverius; Local name: Gligli, Sparrow Hawk;
Family: Falconidae

​Description: 
Small falcon, 22-31 cm long (8.5-12 in) with a 55-58 cm wingspan (21-23 in); head short, dark with hooked beak of raptor; crown gray with white cheeks; has two bold, black, sideburn markings below each eye; wings in flight pointed at tip; has long tail; legs golden with raptor claws; male – plumage more boldly colored, streaked on back in brown and orange-brown, wings blue-gray, chest and belly greyish to light brown and lightly spotted; has what appears to be white dots on edge of wings and tail, creating "string of pearls" effect; larger female – plumage duller than male with greyish-brown streaking on chest; wings rufous, barred with black, and appear sickle-shaped in flight; bird very swift when pursuing prey; feeds largely on small birds, lizards, mice and small snakes; seen in Gardens primarily during northern winter months when some individuals are migrants from North America. Click 
here to listen to its call (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
C.S. Robbins, B. Bruun, H.S Zim. Birds of North America. Western Publishing Company Inc, New York 1966
Gough, G.A., Sauer, J.R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD 1998 (mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov)
Peter Alden, et al. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. Alfred Knopf, New York, 1998
​​Gardens Introduction

​

Preface - How it Began
Introduction to Website
A Brief History
Plan of Gardens 
Contemporary Commentary​
​Trees, Shrubs, Birds

​
​
Selected Trees and Shrubs
Medicinal Plants
​
Gardens Activities
  Florida's Fairchild Garden
Parrot/Animal Sanctuary
Birds of the Gardens
Garden Views

​
​
Three Virtual Tours
Panoramic Views Today
Early Panoramic Views
 
Hurricane David's Ravages
Future Developments
Curators/Administrators
Reports and Documents
  
Getting Involved
Related Links
Sub-sites

​

Honorees
Island Scholars
Cabinet Photos
​​Treasures of the Cathedral

​Diaspora Policy Paper
​

Visit the DAAS  Website
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Copyright © -  Davison Shillingford, Clayton Shillingford and (the late) Raglan Riviere