Black-thighed Puffleg vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Eriocnemis derbyi compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-thighed Puffleg | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eriocnemis derbyi | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.2 cm (4.4 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.25 g (0.19 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian Andes; visits dense Ericaceae patches at high elevations. Catches small insects in … | 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-thighed Puffleg
Rapid, buzzy trill with slightly harsh quality; quick series of rough notes given persistently 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-thighed Puffleg
Found in high Andean cloud forests and páramo from Colombia south through Ecuador to northern Peru. 2,400–3,600 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Black-thighed Puffleg
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-thighed Puffleg
Fawn-breasted Brilliant: males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic bronze-green; fawn-buff underparts; 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-thighed Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Ecuador at 2,500-3,200 m. Green plumage with black thigh feathers and white leg puffs. Nectarivore of cloud forest and forest edges. Classified as Near Threatened due to habitat loss.
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.