Cuban tody

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Cuban tody
Cuban Tody - Cuba S4E0449.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Todidae
Genus: Todus
Species: T. multicolor
Binomial name
Todus multicolor
Gould, 1837



The species is characterized by small size (11 cm (4.3 in), 59 g (2.1 oz)), large head relative to body size, and a thin, flat bill. Similar to other todies, the coloration of the Cuban tody includes iridescent green dorsum, pale whitish-grey underparts, and red highlights. This species is distinguished by its pink flanks, red throat, yellow lores, and blue ear patch. The bill is bicolored: black on top and red on the bottom.[2]

Distribution and habitat[edit]


The tody, like many resident Cuban bird species, is a habitat generalist.[4] It is known to live in dry lowlands, evergreen forests, coastal vegetation, and near streams and rivers. Cuban todies may be difficult to see; Vaurie reported, "Only one seen at the Cape, in dense underbrush, but several heard."[5]


They are often seen in pairs. When perched, they sometimes repeat a peculiar short "tot-tot-tot-tot", but the most characteristic call is a soft "pprreeee-pprreeee" (which is the origin of its Cuban common name, 'Pedorrera'). Its wings also produce a whirring sound that is used during display flights.[6][2]


Nests consist of a tunnel about 30 cm (12 in) long in a clay embankment, with a terminal chamber, though sometimes they use a rotten trunk or tree cavity.[2] The walls of the tunnel and the egg chamber are covered with a thick glue-like substance mixed with grass, lichen, algae, small feathers and other materials. Three to four eggs are laid are incubated by both parents.[2]



See also[edit]


  2. ^ a b c d e Farnsworth, Andrew (2009). Schulenberg, T.S., ed. "Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor)". Neotropical Birds Online. Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 18 October 2014. 
  3. ^ Pérez Mena, Eneider E.; Mora, Emanuel C. (2011). "Geographic Song Variation in the Non-Oscine Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor)". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 123 (1): 76–84. doi:10.1676/10-003.1. 
  4. ^ Wallace, G.E.; González Alonso, Hiram; McNicholl, Martin K.; Rodríguez Batista, Daysi; Oviedo Prieto, Ramona; Llanes Sosa, Alejandro; Sánchez Oria, Bárbara; Wallace, Elizabeth A.H. (1996). "Winter surveys of forest-dwelling Neotropical migrant and resident birds in three regions of Cuba". The Condor 98 (4): 745–768. JSTOR 1369856. 
  5. ^ Vaurie, C. (1957). "Field notes on some Cuban birds". The Wilson Bulletin 69 (4): 301–313. JSTOR 4158615. 
  6. ^ Garrido, Orlando H.; Kirkconnell, Arturo (2000). Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba. Ithaca, NY: Comstock, Cornell University Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-8014-8631-9. 
  7. ^ Hamel, P.B.; Kirkconnell, A. (2005). "Composition of mixed-species flocks of migrant and resident birds in Cuba" (PDF). Cotinga 24: 28–34. 

External links[edit]