Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs Violet-chested Hummingbird
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Sternoclyta cyanopectus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | Violet-chested Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Sternoclyta cyanopectus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) | 14.0 cm (5.5 in) |
| Weight | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) | 7.816666666666667 g (0.28 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Nectarivore of Venezuelan cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and large epiphyte flowers. Supplements with small arthropods. |
| 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.
Violet-chested Hummingbird
Deep, resonant churring trill; prolonged buzzing sound carrying well across Andean scrub habitat at low frequency.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Violet-chested Hummingbird
Found in humid montane forest of the coastal Cordillera and tepuis of Venezuela at 1,000–2,200 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Violet-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
Violet-chested Hummingbird
White-bellied Woodstar (alt): males with glittering purple gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; 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.
Violet-chested Hummingbird
A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) endemic to the coastal mountains of northern Venezuela at 900-2,500 m. Males have a striking violet-blue breast. Nectarivore of montane forest and coffee plantations. A range-restricted Venezuelan endemic.