Blue-throated Goldentail vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Chlorestes eliciae compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-throated Goldentail | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorestes eliciae | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 3.66 g (0.13 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting diverse flowering plants; supplements the high-sugar nectar diet with small insects and 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
Blue-throated Goldentail
Harsh, nasal chatter with emphatic rhythm; rough buzzy notes delivered rapidly with coarse raw texture.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue-throated Goldentail
Found in humid forests from Mexico to Panama. Resident in lowland and foothill forest edges and clearings.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Blue-throated Goldentail
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue-throated Goldentail
Running Coua: pale gray-white below; brown-olive above; blue orbital ring; long graduated tail; ground-dwelling endemic Madagascar
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Blue-throated Goldentail
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid forests from Mexico to Panama. Green plumage with blue throat and golden tail. Nectarivore of forest edges and clearings. Named goldentail for the glittering golden-bronze tail.
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.