Rufous-tailed Hummingbird vs Purple-throated Carib
Amazilia tzacatl compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazilia tzacatl | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.3 cm (4.4 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 5.04 g (0.18 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Common lowland nectarivore of Central America; visits Heliconia, banana, and garden flowers. Supplements with insects … | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Deep, resonant trill with buzzing character; powerful churring vibration carrying across open hillside.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Widely distributed from Mexico through Central America to western Ecuador. Resident in varied lowland habitats.
Purple-throated Carib
Found throughout the Lesser Antilles from Saba to Grenada. Prefers mature forest and flowering trees. Sea level to 800 m.
Conservation Status
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Coucal: entirely rufous-brown overall; long dark graduated tail; red eye; monochromatic rufous plumage; sexually similar
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) widely distributed from Mexico through Central America to western Ecuador. Green plumage with a rufous tail. Red bill with dark tip. Nectarivore of gardens, forest edges, and second growth. One of the most common Neotropical hummingbirds.
Purple-throated Carib
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the Lesser Antilles from Saba to St. Vincent. Males have iridescent purple throat and green body. Nectarivore of montane forest and gardens. Larger and more aggressive than Green-throated Carib, dominating flower territories.