Sapphire-spangled Emerald vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Chionomesa lactea compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sapphire-spangled Emerald | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chionomesa lactea | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 4.333333333333333 g (0.15 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar in forest understory, hovering at Heliconia and bromeliads. Supplements with spiders … | 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
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Soft, liquid notes in gentle descending sequence; mellow flowing tones with subtle variation characteristic of species.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Found in eastern and southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Resident in Atlantic Forest edges and cerrado.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Bengal Coucal: dark brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; common Asian coucal species
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in eastern and southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Green plumage with sapphire-blue throat spots. Nectarivore of Atlantic Forest edges, cerrado, and gardens. Named for its sapphire-spangled throat.
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.