Purple-crowned Fairy vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Heliothryx barroti compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-crowned Fairy | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliothryx barroti | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.8 cm (5.0 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.48 g (0.19 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore specializing in high canopy flowers and bromeliads. Pierces flower bases to rob nectar; supplements … | 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
Purple-crowned Fairy
Buzzy, insect-like trill sustained monotonously; continuous high-frequency vibration with little dynamic range throughout.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-crowned Fairy
Found in lowland humid forest from southern Mexico through Central America to western Ecuador and western Colombia. 0–800 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Purple-crowned Fairy
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Purple-crowned Fairy
White-tailed Goldenthroat: males with glittering golden-green gorget; metallic green above; white-tipped tail; females green with 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
Purple-crowned Fairy
A slender, elegant hummingbird (11-13 cm) with a long, deeply forked tail. Green upperparts, purple crown, and immaculate white underparts. Found in humid forests from southern Mexico to western Ecuador. Nectarivore of forest canopy. Named fairy for its delicate, floating flight.
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.