Green-throated Carib vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Eulampis holosericeus compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-throated Carib | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis holosericeus | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.9 cm (4.7 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.916666666666667 g (0.21 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore specializing in Heliconia caribaea and other large-flowered Caribbean plants. Defends territories around nectar sources. | 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-throated Carib
Deep, resonant churring with powerful bass; loud low-frequency trill audible at impressive range across open terrain.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-throated Carib
Found throughout the Lesser Antilles from St. Kitts to Grenada in forest, gardens, and scrub. Sea level to 700 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Green-throated Carib
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-throated Carib
Black-thighed Puffleg: males shining olive-bronze above; glittering blue-violet gorget; black thighs; white leg puffs; females green above
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-throated Carib
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found across the Lesser Antilles from Puerto Rico to Grenada. Bright green plumage with a green throat patch. Nectarivore of gardens, forest edges, and plantations. One of the most common hummingbirds in the eastern Caribbean.
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.