Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs Cuban Emerald
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Riccordia ricordii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | Cuban Emerald |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Riccordia ricordii |
| 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) | 3.75 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Nectarivore of Cuban forest and gardens, visiting diverse native blooms. Takes 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.
Cuban Emerald
Buzzy, insect-like trill sustained steadily; continuous rapid vibration with little melodic variation over time.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Cuban Emerald
Found in Cuba, the Bahamas, and occasionally southern Florida. Resident in forests, gardens, and mangroves.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Cuban Emerald
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
Cuban Emerald
Escudo Hummingbird: males with glittering blue-green gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
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.
Cuban Emerald
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Cuba and the Bahamas, with vagrants to Florida. Brilliant iridescent green plumage and white breast. Deeply forked tail. Nectarivore of forest, gardens, and mangroves. Cuba's most common hummingbird.