Chilean Woodstar vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Eulidia yarrellii compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Chilean Woodstar | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulidia yarrellii | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 6.6 cm (2.6 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 2.38 g (0.08 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar specialist of arid Atacama valleys, visiting cacti and Nicotiana. Supplements diet with small insects … | 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
Chilean Woodstar
Buzzy, high-pitched trill with insect-like quality; sustained rapid vibration with minimal melodic content.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Chilean Woodstar
Endemic to the hyper-arid coast of northern Chile from Arica to Antofagasta. Critically Endangered with fewer than 400 individuals.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Chilean Woodstar
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Chilean Woodstar
Slender Sheartail: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; elongated outer tail; females green above; spotted below
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Chilean Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the hyper-arid Atacama coast of northern Chile. Males have a purple throat and forked tail. Nectarivore of desert scrub and cultivated gardens. Critically Endangered with fewer than 400 individuals remaining due to habitat destruction.
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.