Costa's Hummingbird vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Calypte costae compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Costa's Hummingbird | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calypte costae | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.9 cm (3.5 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 3.4000000000000004 g (0.12 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Mojave Desert scrub, favouring desert lavender and sage. Supplements nectar with insects and … | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Costa's Hummingbird only
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Costa's Hummingbird
Melodic, flute-like ascending scale; smooth bright notes climbing steadily in cheerful morning territorial delivery.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Costa's Hummingbird
Found in arid western North America from California to Mexico. Breeds in desert scrub; some populations resident year-round.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Costa's Hummingbird
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Costa's Hummingbird
Crowned Woodnymph: males with brilliant iridescent violet crown; glittering green gorget; metallic green above; 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
Costa's Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) of arid western North America from California to Mexico. Males have a brilliant iridescent purple crown and gorget that extends along the sides of the neck. Nectarivore of desert scrub and gardens. Thrives in extreme desert heat.
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.