About Todus multicolor Gould, 1837
Todus multicolor Gould, 1837, commonly called the Cuban tody, is a small bird species that reaches 11 cm (4.3 in) in length and weighs 5.9 g (0.21 oz). It has a large head relative to its body, and a thin, flat bill. Like other todies, the Cuban tody has an iridescent green back, pale whitish-grey underparts, and red colored highlights across its body. This specific species can be distinguished by its pink flanks, red throat, yellow lores, and blue ear-patch. Its bill is bicolored: the top half is black, and the bottom half is red. The Cuban tody is a permanent resident that only lives in portions of Cuba and the small islands just off Cuba’s coast. Analysis of song variation in the species indicates that it is split into two separate populations, one located in eastern Cuba and one in western Cuba. Like many other resident bird species native to Cuba, the Cuban tody is a habitat generalist. It lives in dry lowlands, evergreen forests, coastal vegetation, and areas near streams and rivers. Cuban toadies can be hard to spot; Vaurie reported, "Only one seen at the Cape, in dense underbrush, but several heard."
