the Tody, in ornithology; a genus belonging to the order of Picidae. The beak is slender, depressed, broad, and the base belet with bristles. The nostrils are small and oval. The toes are placed three before and one behind; the middle are greatly connected to the outer. There are 15 species according to Dr. Latham.

"Birds of this genus (says that eminent ornithologist) inhabit the warmer parts of America. They vary considerably in their bills as to breadth, but all of them have a certain flatness, or depression, which is peculiar. They have great affinity to the flycatchers; and indeed, to speak the truth, the two genera run much into one another; however, in one thing they differ materially; for in the tody the outer and middle toes are much connected, whereas in the flycatcher genus they are divided to their origin."