Bronze-tailed Thornbill vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Chalcostigma heteropogon compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bronze-tailed Thornbill | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chalcostigma heteropogon | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.1 cm (5.6 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.65 g (0.20 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high Andean grasslands and shrublands; visits Ericaceae and Gentianaceae blooms. Gleans tiny 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
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Deep, hollow churring with resonant bass; prolonged low buzzing audible at range through open forest edge.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Found in high Andean grassland and scrub from Venezuela through Colombia to Ecuador at 2,800–4,200 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Mangrove Hummingbird: tiny; males with violet gorget; metallic green above; white-spotted underparts; females green above; 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
Bronze-tailed Thornbill
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests and páramo edges from Venezuela to Peru at 2,500-3,800 m. Green plumage with bronze tail and purple throat (males). Nectarivore of high-altitude shrubs. The largest thornbill in the genus Chalcostigma.
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.