Hyacinth Visorbearer vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Augastes scutatus compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Hyacinth Visorbearer | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Augastes scutatus | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.7 cm (4.2 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 3.3 g (0.12 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Brazilian cerrado flowers, particularly Vellozia and Qualea. Catches small insects near rocky outcrops. | 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
Hyacinth Visorbearer
Soft, pure sustained tone with gentle vibrato; single melodic note trembling slightly, typical of quiet upland forest perches.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Hyacinth Visorbearer
Endemic to the campo rupestre of the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Found at 900–1,600 m elevation.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Hyacinth Visorbearer
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Hyacinth Visorbearer
Velvet-purple Coronet: brilliant velvety purple head; glittering green gorget; iridescent purple body; white underparts; straight bill
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Hyacinth Visorbearer
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) endemic to the highlands of southeastern Brazil, particularly Minas Gerais. Iridescent hyacinth-blue forehead visor and green plumage. Nectarivore of rocky campo rupestre habitats with sparse vegetation. Classified as Near Threatened.
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.