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Dominica Botanic Gardens
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Birds of the Botanic Gardens

Black Swift: Cypseloides niger; Local name: Swallow, Jiwondel, Zozyo Laplis (Rain Bird);
Family: Apodidae (Swifts)


Description: “Bird of the Clouds;” medium-sized, aerial, black bird, 15-18 cm long (5.5-7 in), largest Swift in the West Indies and North America; bird is sooty-black on the upperparts with somewhat lighter black underparts; has short, dark grey, slightly hooked bill, light grey forehead and black eyes; wings long, slender and curved, black with darker shoulders; tail long and slightly forked; forages exclusively in the air, singly or in small flocks; in the Gardens, is usually seen in rainy season flying fast and darting far up in the sky, foraging on small, flying insects. Local folklore has it that large flocks of these Swallows overhead signal approaching rain, hence the local name Rain Bird.

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References:
Arlington James, et al. 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
Herbert Raffaele, et al. Birds of the West Indies. Princeton Field Guides, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2003.
Mitchell Waite. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. whatbird.com. May 2008
​​Gardens Introduction

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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