Red-billed Emerald vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Chlorostilbon gibsoni compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-billed Emerald | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorostilbon gibsoni | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.9 cm (3.9 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 3.4 g (0.12 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar in lowland Venezuelan scrub and forest. Gleans insects and spiders to … | 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
Red-billed Emerald
Harsh, buzzy chatter with urgency; rough staccato notes escalating quickly during competitive flower territory dispute.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Red-billed Emerald
Found in dry valleys and scrub of Colombia and Venezuela. Resident in arid and semi-arid habitats at low elevations.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Red-billed Emerald
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-billed Emerald
Versicolored Emerald: males with glittering multicolored gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spots
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Red-billed Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in dry valleys and scrub of Colombia and Venezuela. Bright green plumage with a red bill with dark tip. Nectarivore of arid and semi-arid habitats. Named after the naturalist William Gibson.
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.