Tourmaline Sunangel vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Heliangelus exortis compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tourmaline Sunangel | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliangelus exortis | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.2 cm (4.8 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.3 g (0.19 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting narrow tubular blooms of cloud-forest shrubs. Supplements diet with small spiders caught near … | 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
Tourmaline Sunangel
Melodic, two-note ascending call; pure first tone rising to brighter second note, given repeatedly with clear projection.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Tourmaline Sunangel
Found in cloud forests of Colombia and western Venezuela at 1,800–3,200 m. Fairly common in its limited range.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Tourmaline Sunangel
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Tourmaline Sunangel
Coppery Metaltail: shining coppery-green above; white underparts with cinnamon flanks; glittering violet gorget; females spotted throat
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Tourmaline Sunangel
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Peru at 1,500-3,000 m. Males have a glittering multi-colored throat flashing green, orange, and purple like a tourmaline gemstone. Nectarivore of montane forest edges and Ericaceae-rich habitats.
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.