Empress Brilliant vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Heliodoxa imperatrix compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Empress Brilliant | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliodoxa imperatrix | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.6 cm (5.7 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 8.8 g (0.31 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian Pacific slope cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and Heliconia. Supplements with small … | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Empress Brilliant
High, crystalline series of musical notes; clear bright sequence ascending smoothly in characteristically cheerful manner.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Empress Brilliant
Found on the Pacific slope of Colombia and Ecuador in humid lowland and foothill forest. Sea level to 1,200 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Empress Brilliant
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Empress Brilliant
Purple-collared Woodstar (alt): tiny; males with brilliant blue-violet gorget; metallic green above; females plain; pale 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
Empress Brilliant
A large hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in humid forests of western Colombia and Ecuador at 400-1,600 m. Males have an iridescent green crown and violet-blue throat. Nectarivore of Chocó forest. Named Empress for the regal appearance. Classified as Near Threatened.
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.