Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Selasphorus platycercus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | Broad-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Selasphorus platycercus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) | 9.8 cm (3.9 in) |
| Weight | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) | 3.4875000000000003 g (0.12 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Nectarivore of high-altitude meadows, visiting paintbrush and Penstemon. Captures insects and spiders to supplement nectar … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird only
None
Broad-tailed Hummingbird only
Song & Call Comparison
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Sharp, emphatic chip note with metallic quality; single clean staccato sound repeated at measured intervals.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Rapid, buzzy chips in excited sequence; rough staccato notes tumbling quickly with energetic quality near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Found in mountain meadows of western North America from Idaho to Guatemala at 1,500-3,500 m. Breeds in highlands; winters south.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed 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
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Copper-rumped Hummingbird: males with iridescent copper rump; metallic green above; glittering violet gorget; females green; spots
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.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10 cm) found in mountain meadows of the western US from Idaho to Guatemala at 1,500-3,500 m. Males produce a distinctive metallic trilling sound with their tail feathers during display dives. Rose-magenta gorget. Nectarivore of mountain wildflowers.