Rufous-breasted Hermit vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Glaucis hirsutus compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-breasted Hermit | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Glaucis hirsutus | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 6.533333333333334 g (0.23 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectar-dependent hummingbird harvesting energy-rich floral rewards; dietary protein from small arthropods. | 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
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Soft, high squeaking notes in loose sequence; gentle twittering with intermittent pauses, barely carrying beyond close range.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Found from Trinidad and the Guianas south through Amazonia, and coastal regions from Colombia to Brazil. Resident in forest edge and gardens.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Bronze-green upperparts; rich rufous-orange breast and flanks contrasting with whitish belly; pale supercilium; rufous tail with dark subterminal band; widespread Neotropical hermit with brighter rufous breast than Bronzy Hermit.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Rufous-breasted Hermit
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-12 cm) found in humid forests and mangroves from Central America to Brazil and Trinidad. Green plumage with rufous breast and curved bill. Nectarivore visiting Heliconia, bananas, and other large-flowered tropical plants in forest undergrowth.
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.