Lyre-tailed Hummingbird vs Fiery Topaz
Nesophlox lyrura compared with Topaza pyra
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lyre-tailed Hummingbird | Fiery Topaz |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesophlox lyrura | Topaza pyra |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 8.0 cm (3.1 in) | 15.2 cm (6.0 in) |
| Weight | 2.425 g (0.09 oz) | 12.8 g (0.45 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore probing tubular flowers in humid forest. Supplements nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Primarily nectar-feeding; uses exceptionally curved bill to access heliconia blossoms; supplements with small insects. |
| 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.
Fiery Topaz
Gentle, whistled three-note phrase with falling inflection; soft, pure tones delivered slowly with expressive melodic quality.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Endemic to Jamaica. Resident in forests and gardens across the island from lowlands to highlands.
Fiery Topaz
Found in the western Amazon basin from Colombia and Ecuador south to Peru and Bolivia. Resident in lowland and foothill forest along rivers.
Conservation Status
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird
Fiery Topaz
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
Fiery Topaz
Males fiery orange-red body with glittering golden-orange gorget; elongated crossed purplish tail feathers; female bronze-green above, cinnamon below; Amazonian species with slightly more orange tone than Crimson Topaz.
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.
Fiery Topaz
A spectacular, large hummingbird (18-20 cm) of the western Amazon basin. Male has a brilliant fiery-red throat and breast with iridescent golden-green upperparts. Nectarivore of lowland rainforest canopy. Found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Brazil. Visits Heliconia and other large tropical flowers.