Common blowfly vs Long-tailed Sylph

Calliphora grahami compared with Aglaiocercus kingii

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common blowfly	Long-tailed Sylph
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Diptera (Diptera)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family	Calliphoridae	Trochilidae
Genus	Calliphora	Aglaiocercus
Species	Calliphora grahami	Aglaiocercus kingii

Evolutionary Relationship

Common blowfly and Long-tailed Sylph share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Common blowfly

LC — Least Concern

Long-tailed Sylph

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common blowfly	Long-tailed Sylph
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common blowfly

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

Long-tailed Sylph

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Common blowfly

The common blowfly (<em>Calliphora grahami</em>) is a fly species found across the United States, typically inhabiting all terrestrial and freshwater environments. As a member of the family Calliphoridae, this species often plays an important ecological role as a decomposer and pollinator across its range. The common blowfly is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population with no immediate threat of extinction. Its diet includes decaying organic matter, making it a significant contributor to nutrient cycling in its native habitats. The species is commonly associated with a wide variety of terrestrial ecosystems, from open grasslands to forested areas, and is often found near human settlements. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Long-tailed Sylph

One of the most strikingly ornamented hummingbirds, male long-tailed sylphs have iridescent green plumage and dramatically elongated, ribbon-like outer tail feathers reaching up to 22 cm — over three times the body length. Found in Andean cloud forests of Colombia and Venezuela, they inhabit humid montane forest between 1,400–2,800 meters elevation. Males perform elaborate display flights to attract females. Their extravagant tails are a classic example of sexual selection via female preference.