Birds of the Botanic Gardens

Caribbean Elaenia: Elaenia martinica; Local name: Siffleur, Shwek Patwa;
Family: Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

Description: Small bird, 15.5-18 cm long (6-7 in); has dark, olive-grey upperparts, and grayish white underparts, with yellowish wash on abdomen; has two grayish white wing-bars on each wing, these help identify this flycatcher; bill is dark with pinkish lower mandible; has medium tail and black legs; feeds on small insects; has distinct, shrill whistle; the bird is a lowland resident of forest margins and is seen in both the ornamental plants and economic crops sections of the Gardens; 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
Bond, James. A Field Guide to the Birds of the West Indies. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Co., NY, 5th Edition 1993.