Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs White-bearded Helmetcrest
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Oxypogon lindenii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | White-bearded Helmetcrest |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Oxypogon lindenii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) | 14.4 cm (5.7 in) |
| Weight | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) | 4.8 g (0.17 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Nectarivore restricted to high Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta páramo. Visits sparse Espeletia blooms; supplements … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
White-bearded Helmetcrest
Soft, melodic ascending call; gentle pure tones rising gradually in unhurried musical sequence at forest edge.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
White-bearded Helmetcrest
Endemic to the Venezuelan Andes of Mérida in high páramo at 3,000–4,600 m. Restricted range.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
White-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
White-bearded Helmetcrest
Berylline Hummingbird: males with iridescent beryl-green gorget and head; metallic green; rufous wings; females duller with spotted throat
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.
White-bearded Helmetcrest
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the Andes of western Venezuela (Mérida and Trujillo) at 3,500-4,700 m. Males have a white beard and erect crest. Nectarivore of páramo, visiting Espeletia frailejón. A Venezuelan highland endemic.