Black-chinned Hummingbird vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus alexandri | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 3.6399999999999997 g (0.13 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Generalist nectarivore visiting a wide variety of western North American flowers. Gleans insects and spiders … | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rapid, animated twittering with bright quality; light staccato notes cascading freely in cheerful sequence.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Found in western North America from British Columbia to Mexico. Breeds in open woodland; winters in western Mexico.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-chinned Hummingbird
White-eared Hummingbird: males with brilliant violet-blue gorget; metallic green above; white postocular stripe; females green; spotted
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Black-chinned Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in western North America from British Columbia to Mexico. Males have a black chin with iridescent purple border. Nectarivore of open woodland, gardens, and desert oases. Common at feeders across the western US during breeding season.
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.