Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Polytmus theresiae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | Green-tailed Goldenthroat |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Polytmus theresiae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) | 11.3 cm (4.4 in) |
| Weight | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) | 3.575 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Nectarivore of open wetland margins and savanna; forages at diverse flower types. Takes tiny flies … |
| 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.
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Rough, grating buzz with coarse texture; sustained low-pitched trill with vibrating quality audible over some distance.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Found in open savanna and forest edges of the Guianas and Amazonian Venezuela and Brazil. Sea level to 600 m.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
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-tailed Goldenthroat
White-chinned Sapphire: males with glittering violet gorget and white chin; metallic green above; females with spotted white 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.
Green-tailed Goldenthroat
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in humid lowland forests and edges from the Guianas through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Green plumage with a golden-green throat and greenish tail. Nectarivore of forest edges and clearings.