Humboldt's Hummingbird vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Chrysuronia humboldtii compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Humboldt's Hummingbird | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysuronia humboldtii | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 6.275 g (0.22 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from Colombian and Venezuelan lowland flowers. Supplements with small arthropods caught near … | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Humboldt's Hummingbird
Melodic, descending two-note whistle; pure warm tones stepping down smoothly, given repeatedly from territory perch.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Humboldt's Hummingbird
Found in humid Pacific lowland forests of Colombia and Ecuador. Resident in Chocó forest edges.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Humboldt's Hummingbird
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Humboldt's Hummingbird
Black-throated Coucal: black throat; brown streaked above; rufous wings; buff below; long dark tail; red eye; black throat distinctive
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Humboldt's Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in humid Pacific lowland forests of Colombia and Ecuador. Green plumage. Nectarivore of Chocó forest edges. Named after Alexander von Humboldt. Sometimes considered a subspecies of Sapphire-throated Hummingbird.
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.