Blue-throated Mountain-gem vs Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Lampornis clemenciae compared with Nesophlox lyrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-throated Mountain-gem | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampornis clemenciae | Nesophlox lyrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.7 cm (5.8 in) | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) |
| Weight | 7.25 g (0.26 oz) | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of US and Mexican highland forest; visits diverse flowers at medium to high elevation. … | 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
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Rough, nasal chatter with emphatic delivery; series of coarse buzzy notes audible from considerable distance.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Geographic Range & Migration
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Found from the mountains of southern Arizona south through Mexico to Honduras in pine-oak forest. 1,400–3,500 m.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Conservation Status
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Calliope Hummingbird (alt): males with iridescent blue gorget; metallic green body; white pectoral tufts; females green; 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
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in mountain canyons of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Males have a brilliant blue throat gorget. The largest hummingbird breeding in the US. Nectarivore of mountain meadows and garden feeders. Known for its loud, squeaky call.
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.