Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs Blue-chested Hummingbird
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Polyerata amabilis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | Blue-chested Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Polyerata amabilis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) | — |
| Weight | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) | 4.15 g (0.15 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Feeds on nectar from diverse forest flowers, hovering briefly at each bloom. Takes small insects … |
| 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.
Blue-chested Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged low buzzing sound carrying well through broad-leafed tropical forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Blue-chested Hummingbird
Found in humid lowland forests from Honduras to Ecuador. Resident in Caribbean lowland forests.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Blue-chested Hummingbird
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
Blue-chested Hummingbird
Andaman Coucal (alt): dark glossy brown above; rufous wings; pale below; long dark tail; red eye; Andaman island endemic
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.
Blue-chested Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid lowland forests from Honduras to Ecuador. Males have a bright blue breast patch. Green plumage. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth and edges. Found primarily in Caribbean lowland forests.