todies

Todies are small, insectivorous birds belonging to the family Todidae. They are found exclusively in the Caribbean, inhabiting humid forests and woodlands. The family contains a single genus, Todus, with five extant species. These species are characterized by their bright, often iridescent plumage, typically featuring green backs, pinkish flanks, and white throats. Todies possess broad, flattened bills with hooked tips, well-suited for sallying forth to catch insects in mid-air or gleaning them from foliage.

Todies are generally sedentary birds, spending much of their time perched on low branches. They are known for their distinctive hunting behavior, often remaining motionless for extended periods before making a swift dart to capture prey. Their diet consists mainly of insects, but they may also consume small lizards or frogs. Todies are typically solitary outside of the breeding season. They construct burrows in earth banks or rotting tree trunks for nesting, where they lay a clutch of small, white eggs. The young are altricial, requiring significant parental care. All todies are resident in their respective islands, and their populations are generally considered stable, though habitat loss is a potential concern for some species.