Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although this species may have a small range, the population is believed to be stable in the absence of plausible direct threats and is not severely fragmented or subject to extreme fluctuations. While the population may be small, it is believed to considerably exceed the threshold for listing as Vulnerable under Criterion D (fewer than 1,000 mature individuals). Hence it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under any criteria and is evaluated as Least Concern. Due to the restricted range and likely small population, should a population decline be suspected in the future then the species may warrant consideration for listing under a threatened category.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but Feo et al. (2015) estimated that on Great Inagua it was likely to number in the low thousands, while the population on Little Inagua is likely to be considerably smaller.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
Lyre-tailed Hummingbird is restricted to the islands of Great and Little Inagua, in the Bahamas. On Great Inagua a significant fraction of the island is apparently unsuitable mangrove and saltwater lake (Feo et al. 2015). Little Inagua is the largest uninhabited island in the wider Caribbean and is entirely within Little Inagua National Park, designated in 2002.
Habitat use appears to differ seasonally. Food limitation is apparent during the dry season (February) when they were abundant in urban gardens with plentiful flowers (Feo et al. 2015). Both sexes defend small territories around good nectar sources such as a flowering Aloe vera (Feo et al. 2015). In contrast, very few were present in Matthew Town in the wet season (October) which is the breeding season (Feo et al. 2015). At this season the species was common (at least 20 birds per square kilometre) in coppice outside of town with males controlling a core territory of approximately 25 by 25 m (Feo et al. 2015).
The entire range of the species is restricted to two low islands (maximum height above sea level is only 37 metres on Great Inagua), which presents a potential risk from habitat restriction through rising sea-level but particularly exacerbates the impact of storms. There is little evidence of population impact of a strong hurricane on a hummingbird, but there is clearly the potential for a considerable reduction should the Inaguan islands receive a direct hit. Aside from the potential for natural disaster, the species is not habitat restricted and there do not appear to be any particular direct threats to its persistence (Feo et al. 2015).
As the species is only recently recognised further work to assess population size is important, especially densities in eastern Great Inagua and on Little Inagua which would allow an accurate global population estimate.
Adult male differs from Bahama Hummingbird in the fully iridescent forecrown, lyre-shaped outer tail feathers and more strongly forked tail. Females and immatures of the two species are very similar. The song is quiet, relatively simple (sounding like wet, squeaking shoes [Feo et al. 2015]) and typically a lot shorter than that of Bahama Hummingbird.
Text account compilers
Wheatley, H., Martin, R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Lyre-tailed Hummingbird Nesophlox lyrura. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/lyre-tailed-hummingbird-nesophlox-lyrura on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.