Little Woodstar vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Chaetocercus bombus compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Little Woodstar | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaetocercus bombus | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 5.6 cm (2.2 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 6.5 g (0.23 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | One of the world's smallest birds; feeds on nectar from tiny blossoms in humid forest … | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Little Woodstar
Harsh, scratchy buzz with coarse texture; sustained rough vibration with raspy edges carrying across scrub habitat.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Little Woodstar
Found in Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Peru at 800-2,200 m. Classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Little Woodstar
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Little Woodstar
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird: males with glittering golden-red topaz crown; iridescent ruby gorget; metallic green back; females duller
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Little Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (7 cm) found in Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Peru at 800-2,200 m. Small even for a woodstar. Purple throat (males). Nectarivore of forest edges. Classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss. One of the smallest hummingbirds.
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.