Cuban Tody
Encyclopedia
The Cuban Tody is a bird species in the family Todidae that is restricted to Cuba and adjacent islands. The species is characterized by small size (11 centimetres (4.3 in)), large head relative to body size, and a thin, pointed bill. Similar to other todies, the coloration of the Cuban Tody includes iridescent green dorsum, pale underparts, and red highlights.
and islands just off the Cuban coast. Analysis of song variation suggests that the Cuban Tody is structured into two populations, corresponding to eastern and western Cuba.
Cuban Todies, like many resident Cuban bird species, are habitat generalists. They are known to live in areas including 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."
has been little-studied, they are known to be members of mixed-species flocks.
, but also may include small fruits
, spiders
, and small lizards
. Cuban Todies are also food items: predators include both people
in poor areas and mongoose
.
Distribution and Habitat
The Cuban Tody is a year-round resident of portions of CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and islands just off the Cuban coast. Analysis of song variation suggests that the Cuban Tody is structured into two populations, corresponding to eastern and western Cuba.
Cuban Todies, like many resident Cuban bird species, are habitat generalists. They are known to live in areas including 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."
Ecology
Although Cuban Tody ecologyEcology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
has been little-studied, they are known to be members of mixed-species flocks.
Behaviour
Cuban Todies 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'). Nests consist of a tunnel about 0.3 metres (0.98 ft) in length with a chamber at the end into a clay embankment, though sometimes they use a rotten trunk or tree cavity. 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 that probably act as a sealant.Diet
The Cuban Tody diet is dominated by insectsInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
, but also may include small fruits
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
, spiders
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
, and small lizards
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
. Cuban Todies are also food items: predators include both people
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
in poor areas and mongoose
Mongoose
Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...
.
See also
- Jamaican TodyJamaican TodyFound only in Jamaica, the Jamaican Tody is a small and colourful bird, predominantly green above, with a red throat and yellow underparts, with some pink on the sides. It has a large head and a long, flat bill. It perches on small branches, with its bills unturned and, like its Cuban relative ,...
- Narrow-billed TodyNarrow-billed TodyThe Narrow-billed Tody is a species of bird in the Todidae family.It is found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and heavily degraded former forest....
- Broad-billed TodyBroad-billed TodyThe Broad-billed Tody, Todus subulatus, is one of the two species of tody native to the island of Hispaniola. It can be identified by its small size, stubby beak, ruby-red throat, and green back....
- Puerto Rican TodyPuerto Rican TodyThe Puerto Rican Tody is a tody endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico. Despite is scientific name, Todus mexicanus, it is endemic to Puerto Rico...
External links
- Cuban Tody videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection
- Stamps (for CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
), 5 issues - Cuban Tody photo gallery VIREO Photo-High Res-(Close-up)
- Photo-High Res-(Close-up); Article Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
