Buff-tailed Coronet vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Boissonneaua flavescens compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Buff-tailed Coronet | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Boissonneaua flavescens | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.0 cm (5.9 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 8.033333333333333 g (0.28 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Andean cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia blooms. Aggressively defends territories; gleans small … | 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
Buff-tailed Coronet
Soft, pure descending whistle; gentle note curving downward smoothly, warm and musical in cloud forest quiet.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Buff-tailed Coronet
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to Bolivia. 1,600–3,000 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Buff-tailed Coronet
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Buff-tailed Coronet
White-bearded Helmetcrest: males with glittering blue-violet gorget; metallic green; white beard; white leg puffs; females plain green
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Buff-tailed Coronet
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Peru at 1,500-3,000 m. Green plumage with a buff-orange tail. Nectarivore of montane forest and edges. Named coronet for the green iridescence on the crown.
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.