Wire-crested Thorntail vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Discosura popelairii compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wire-crested Thorntail | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Discosura popelairii | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 6.6 cm (2.6 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 2.5 g (0.09 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of lowland tropical forest; forages high in canopy at flowering bromeliads and epiphytes. Supplements … | 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
Wire-crested Thorntail
Rapid, light twittering with crystalline quality; bright airy notes cascading freely in animated display above canopy.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Wire-crested Thorntail
Found on the eastern Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and far western Brazil. 200–1,400 m elevation.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Wire-crested Thorntail
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Wire-crested Thorntail
Bronze-tailed Comet: males with brilliant coppery-orange crown; glittering teal gorget; metallic green back; bronze tail; females duller
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Wire-crested Thorntail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm plus extended tail wires in males, total 12-13 cm). Males have a spectacular erect green crest and long, wire-like outer tail feathers. Found in Andean foothill forests from Colombia to Peru. Nectarivore. One of the most ornate hummingbirds.
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.