Velvet-purple Coronet vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Boissonneaua jardini compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Velvet-purple Coronet | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Boissonneaua jardini | 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 | 9.4 g (0.33 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian Pacific slope cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Heliconia. Supplements with small arthropods. | 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
Velvet-purple Coronet
Harsh, grating screech with urgent tone; sudden loud rough call given sharply during aerial chase encounter.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Velvet-purple Coronet
Found on the Pacific slope of the Andes in Colombia and northwestern Ecuador in cloud forest. 500–1,800 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Velvet-purple Coronet
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Velvet-purple Coronet
Rainbow Starfrontlet: males with brilliant magenta-orange gorget; metallic green above; white belly; 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
Velvet-purple Coronet
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found in cloud forests of western Colombia and Ecuador at 1,200-2,400 m. Males have dark velvety-purple plumage with green iridescence. Nectarivore of Chocó cloud forest. A striking, dark-plumaged hummingbird.
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.