Behavior

The Narrow-billed Tody primarily occurs in moist to wet, dense jungle on the island of Hispaniola. This species overlaps fairly extensively with the Broad-billed Tody (Todus subulatus) throughout the Sierra de Baoruco and Cordillera Central (Kepler 1977, Latta and Wunderle 1996). Moreover both species appear to join mix species flocks in Pine forests, and is suggested to do so for enhanced feeding opportunities (Latta and Wunderle 1996).

When they occur together in the same habitat, both the Narrow-billed Tody and Broad-billed Tody adjust their behavior and their locations when foraging. Narrow-billed Todies in general have higher feeding rates than do the Broad-billed Todies across all habitat types. In pine forests (Pinus spp.), Narrow-billed Todies often forage in more dense forest canopy than the Broad-billed Tody with more near-perch jumps (as opposed to sally-strikes or sally-hovers). In coffee plantations, Narrow-billed Todies forage more among the coffee plants (usually on the leaves) compared to Broad-billed Todies (Latta and Wunderle 1996). When Narrow-billed Todies forage in mixed-species flocks, they forage higher in the trees than when solitary, and have higher movement and feeding rates (Latta and Wunderle 1996).

Narrow-billed Todies (like all todies) are seasonally monogamous, one individual from each sex mates during one season. Typically only one clutch is laid per season, although multiple matings and clutches per pair have been observed (Kepler 1977).

Usually in pairs.

The primary predation risk for Narrow-billed Todies is introduced mongooses preying on young or eggs.