Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs Bumblebee Hummingbird
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Selasphorus heloisa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | Bumblebee Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Selasphorus heloisa |
| 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) | 2.35 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Feeds on floral nectar in pine-oak highlands of Mexico, hovering at small tubular blooms. Gleans … |
| Clutch Size | 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.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
Thin, high whistle with delicate quality; soft pure note barely audible beyond close range in undergrowth.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
Endemic to the mountains of Mexico at 1,800-3,500 m elevation. Resident in pine-oak and cloud forest edges.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Bumblebee 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
Bumblebee Hummingbird
Steely-vented Hummingbird (alt): males with steel-blue gorget; metallic green above; steel-blue tail; 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.
Bumblebee Hummingbird
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) endemic to the mountains of Mexico at 1,800-3,500 m. Males have a magenta gorget. Named for its resemblance to a bumblebee in size. Nectarivore of pine-oak and cloud forest. One of the smallest hummingbirds in Mexico.