Birds of the Botanic Gardens

Lesser Antillean Bullfinch: Loxigilla noctis; Local name: Pere Noir (male), Mweson (female);
Family: Emberizidae (Sparrows, Finches and allies)

Description: Small, active bird, 14-16 cm long (5.5-6.2 in); male and female plumage quite different; male is jet black with orange on chin and throat, and orange spot above eye; has short black bill and black legs; female is olive-brown above and grey-brown below, with short brown bill and brownish-grey legs; because of these color differences, there are separate local names for male (Pere Noir) and female (Mweson); in both male and female, tail is of medium length; this bird feeds primarily on fruit – mangoes, oranges, guavas, papayas; seen throughout the Gardens; is not shy, and will visit offices in Gardens or approach visitors on park benches looking for left over fruit or bread; [reportedly, in Barbados, adult males resemble females]; click  here    to listen to its call (it is the shrill, high-pitched call heard on the tape first, not the chirp in the background)..

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.
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