Buff-winged Starfrontlet vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Coeligena lutetiae compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Buff-winged Starfrontlet | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena lutetiae | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.5 cm (6.1 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 7.025 g (0.25 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian montane Ericaceae-rich forest. Supplements nectar with small insects and spiders gleaned from … | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Buff-winged Starfrontlet only
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Deep, hollow churring with resonant character; prolonged buzzing sound vibrating persistently through Andean polylepis.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Found in high Andean cloud forests of Ecuador and Colombia at 2,400–3,600 m elevation.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Andean Hillstar: males with iridescent multicolored gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted buff 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
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Peru at 2,400-3,500 m. Green plumage with buff-colored wing patches visible in flight. Nectarivore of montane forest and páramo edges.
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.