Green Violetear vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Colibri thalassinus compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green Violetear | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colibri thalassinus | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.5 cm (4.9 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.092499999999999 g (0.18 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of montane gardens and cloud-forest borders. Takes small insects in aerial sallies from prominent … | 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
Green Violetear
Melodic, descending four-note phrase; clear flute-like tones stepping down smoothly, characteristic of violetear territory song.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green Violetear
Found in highlands from central Mexico south through Central America to western Bolivia. Common in montane forest at 1,000–3,000 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Green Violetear
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Green Violetear
Short-tailed Emerald: iridescent green above with coppery rump; white underparts; rufous flanks; sexually dimorphic; straight short bill
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Green Violetear
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-12 cm) with brilliant green plumage and iridescent violet-blue ear patches. Found in highlands from Mexico to Nicaragua at 1,000-3,500 m. Nectarivore of mountain forests, gardens, and cloud forest edges. Common and conspicuous. Formerly included Lesser Violetear.
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.