Scientific name:
Todidae

Natural spread:
Central America

co only 9-11 cm of total-length is the 5 types of the Todis the smallest Racken screws . Only on the big Antilles, these tree-birds live, who live in in pairs strictly delimited precincts, that are defended by ritualized reinforced "wing-rattle." Also in the normal flight, Todis with its wings generate a buzzing sound why the Bunttodi or Vielfarbentodi (Todus multicolor) from Cuba and the Isla de Pinos in its home is called (= "Furzer") also "Pedorrera"; the name "Cartacuba" indicates them in the bird-plumage of contained regional-colors of Cuba.

Shape Todis have mainly green plumage; particularly the upper side is brilliantly green, while more brightly green shades on the breast and whitish on the underside occurs. The Kehlregion takes off crimson. Both sexes are immediately colored. The long beak is very flat and carries fine horn-teeth at its crusts; strong, usually black feather-bristles surround the beak-root. Tail and wings are short in the relationship to the torso. Bristles Todis the plumage quite considerably perform courtship display in its silence-position and particularly with it and works so much bigger, as they are in reality. The very strongly deformed, long front-toes are a particular characteristic of this family.

Brood Todis dig Nisthöhlen into clayey embankments and other Erdhänge, with what the actual brood-chamber lies at the end of a 20-50 cm long walk, with the beak. The nest consists of 3-5 whitish, almost spherical eggs, that become erbrütet from both alto-birds. Also the Aufzucht of the boys is incumbent on both parents.

The Gelbflankentodi (Todus mexicanus) of Puerto Rico are called because of its brood-habits (at kingfishers and Sägeracken reminiscent), that living Schmalschnabeltodi (T) only on Haiti. angustirostris, as well as the flat-beak or Breitschnabeltodi, T. subulatus, from Haiti and Conave with the inhabitants of these islands also "Barrancoli" therefore shore-inhabitants. The 9,5 cm big Grüntodi or green-flat-beak (T). todus, is marked as "Robin" on Jamaica (where it lives exclusively).

Loot-catch Todis hunt, as most Racken, insects in the flight, with what they wait motionlessly for protruding branches and other favorable Ansitzen in the branches with diagonally upward directional beak, until a loot-animal comes in view. As soon as they caught an insect, Todis come back to its attendants in order to consume the loot there.