Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs Purple-chested Hummingbird
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Polyerata rosenbergi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | Purple-chested Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Polyerata rosenbergi |
| 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) | 3.8 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | 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
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Soft, pure whistle with warm timbre; gentle sustained note barely wavering, given quietly from forest perch.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Found in humid Pacific lowland forests from eastern Panama to western Ecuador. Resident in Chocó forest.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Purple-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
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Sumatran Ground-cuckoo: dark glossy green above; rufous-buff below; blue facial skin; long tail; massive bill; Sumatra 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.
Purple-chested Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid Pacific lowland forests from eastern Panama to western Ecuador. Males have a rich purple breast patch. Nectarivore of Chocó forest edges. Named after the German zoologist William Rosenberg.