Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Oxypogon guerinii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | Green-bearded Helmetcrest |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Oxypogon guerinii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) | 14.1 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) | 5.175000000000001 g (0.18 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Nectarivore of Colombian páramo; forages at frailejón (Espeletia) and cushion plants. Catches small insects near … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird only
Green-bearded Helmetcrest only
Song & Call Comparison
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Sharp, high-pitched squeak with penetrating quality; sudden emphatic note given repeatedly near active feeding territory.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia in high páramo at 3,200–4,800 m elevation. Locally common.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
How to Tell Them Apart
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Mexican Woodnymph: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white flanks; females green above; spotted white below
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Blue-tailed Hummingbird (alt): males with glittering blue-tipped gorget; metallic green above; blue tail; females green above with spots
About These Birds
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.
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia at 3,500-4,500 m. Males have a green beard and erect crest. Nectarivore of páramo and treeline habitats, visiting Espeletia and Ericaceae. A Colombian endemic of high-altitude páramo.