Mountain Velvetbreast vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Lafresnaya lafresnayi compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mountain Velvetbreast | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lafresnaya lafresnayi | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.7 cm (5.0 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 5.6 g (0.20 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Venezuelan Andean cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia. Gleans 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
Mountain Velvetbreast
Sharp, staccato chips in rapid sequence; clean emphatic notes delivered with rising intensity near territorial dispute.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mountain Velvetbreast
Found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,400–3,200 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Mountain Velvetbreast
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Mountain Velvetbreast
Rufous-capped Thornbill: males with ruby gorget; metallic green; rufous-capped; females green above; spotted buff underparts; tiny
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
About These Birds
Mountain Velvetbreast
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Peru at 2,000-3,500 m. Males have a velvety black breast with green iridescence. Long, slightly decurved bill. Nectarivore of montane forest, visiting Ericaceae and Fuchsia flowers.
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.