Blue-tailed Emerald vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Chlorostilbon mellisugus compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-tailed Emerald | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorostilbon mellisugus | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.0 cm (3.5 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 2.6466666666666665 g (0.09 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-tailed Emerald
Pure, flute-like descending scale; smooth melodic phrase moving cleanly through several notes, warm in timbre.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue-tailed Emerald
Widely distributed from Colombia and Venezuela through the Guianas to Trinidad and Tobago. Resident in varied lowland habitats.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Blue-tailed Emerald
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue-tailed Emerald
White-throated Hummingbird: males with brilliant green gorget; metallic green above; white throat; females green above; spotted below
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-tailed Emerald
A small hummingbird (7-8 cm) widely distributed from Colombia and Venezuela through the Guianas to Trinidad and Tobago. Bright green plumage with a blue tail. Nectarivore of forest edges, gardens, and open habitats. One of the most common emeralds in northern South America.
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.