Scissor-tailed Hummingbird vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Hylonympha macrocerca compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Scissor-tailed Hummingbird | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hylonympha macrocerca | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.3 cm (5.2 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 7.25 g (0.26 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Venezuelan cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and diverse forest flowers. Catches small insects near … | 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
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note repeated rapidly; clean staccato delivery with rising intensity during territorial display.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela in cloud forest at 700–1,200 m. Critically endangered.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Gorgeted Woodstar (alt): males with iridescent blue gorget; metallic green body; white pectoral tufts; females green above; spotted
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm plus elongated tail in males, total 18-20 cm) endemic to the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela. Males have deeply forked, scissor-like tail streamers. Nectarivore of humid montane forest. Classified as Endangered.
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.