Venezuelan Sylph vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Aglaiocercus berlepschi compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Venezuelan Sylph | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglaiocercus berlepschi | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.9 cm (4.7 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.0 g (0.18 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Venezuelan Andes cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia blooms. Takes small insects and … | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Venezuelan Sylph
Rough, buzzy chatter with energetic rhythm; coarse notes delivered rapidly with distinctive raw texture near nest.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Venezuelan Sylph
Endemic to the coastal mountains of north-central Venezuela in cloud forest. 1,200–2,400 m. Resident.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Venezuelan Sylph
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Venezuelan Sylph
Bahama Woodstar: tiny; males with glittering magenta gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted below
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Venezuelan Sylph
A spectacular hummingbird closely related to Long-tailed Sylph, endemic to the coastal mountains of northern Venezuela. Males have long violet-blue tail streamers. Nectarivore of cloud forest. Sometimes considered a subspecies of Long-tailed Sylph. Very limited range.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to Jamaica. Males have a deeply forked, lyre-shaped tail. Green plumage. Nectarivore of forest and garden flowers. Recently split from Bahama Woodstar. A Jamaican near-endemic.