Black Inca vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Coeligena prunellei compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black Inca | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena prunellei | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 16.0 cm (6.3 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 7.0 g (0.25 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian Pacific slope cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and bromeliads. Gleans small insects from … | 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
Black Inca
Harsh, scratchy chatter with coarse texture; series of rough notes delivered emphatically near territorial boundaries.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Black Inca
Endemic to the western Andes of Colombia at 1,200–2,400 m. Rare and little-known. Endangered.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Black Inca
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Black Inca
Glowing Puffleg: tiny; males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; glowing green flanks; females green above; spotted
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Black Inca
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia at 1,400-2,500 m. Entirely black plumage with iridescent blue shoulders, unique among hummingbirds. Nectarivore of cloud forest undergrowth. Classified as Vulnerable due to limited range.
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.