The Cuban tody (Todus multicolor) is a
bird species in the family Todidae that is restricted to Cuba and adjacent
islands. The family Todidae is confined to the Greater Antilles and includes five
species. The genus Todus was split from kingfishers of genus Alcedo and
established in 1760. However, the todies appear to be most closely related to
the motmots, and especially the Tody Motmot (Hylomanes momotula), a small
solitary bird of humid tropical and subtropical forests.
Description
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.
In fact, this bird is so small
that it could fit in the palm of a grown person’s hand. The Cuban tody weighs
between six to six and half grams.
The most brightly colored member of the genus, the
coloration of the Cuban tody includes iridescent green upperparts, 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.
Distribution
and habitat
The Cuban tody is a year-round resident of portions of
Cuba 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.
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The tody, like many resident Cuban bird species, is a
habitat generalist. 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.
Justification
(IUCN Red List)
This species has a very large range, and hence does not
approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent
of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range
size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of
locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend
appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid
to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion
(>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has
not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for
Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals
with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three
generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the
species is evaluated as Least Concern.
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