Birds of the Botanic Gardens

Grey Kingbird: Tyrannus dominicensis; Local name: Pipirit;
Family: Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

Description: A somewhat aggressive bird, especially when nesting; 22-25 cm (8.5-10 in) long; upperpart plummage grey, with underparts pale grey-white; earcoverts are blackish; eyes black; orange patch on crown rarely visible; has large black bill with hooked tip; tail notched; legs are dark grey; feeds on small flying insects at various elevations, from near ground to high above ground; a year round resident of the Gardens, often seen sitting on electric utility lines and perched on the tips of the unopened leaves of Royal Palms, from which it dives to feed on small flying insects then returns to its perch; also seen variously in the economic crops section of the Gardens; click here  to see its video and listen to its whistle - one that is particularly attractive and quite typical.

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
J. del Hoyo. Tyrannus dominicensis: Grey Kingbird. Internet Bird Collection, Handbook of Birds of the World, Barcelona, Spain, 2005 (ibc.hbw.com)