Fiery-tailed Awlbill vs Purple-throated Carib
Avocettula recurvirostris compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Fiery-tailed Awlbill | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Avocettula recurvirostris | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.2 cm (4.4 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 4.25 g (0.15 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore with upturned bill tip for accessing pendant Heliconia flowers. Supplements with small insects caught … | 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
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
High, bright twittering cascade; light rapid notes tumbling freely in animated vocal sequence during display.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
Found in humid forest edges and clearings from Trinidad and Venezuela east through the Guianas and Amazonian Brazil. 0–600 m.
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
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
Gilded Hummingbird: males with brilliant violet-blue gorget; metallic bronze-green above; white pectoral tufts; females with spotted below
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Fiery-tailed Awlbill
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) with a uniquely upcurved, awl-shaped bill. Green plumage with a fiery orange-red tail. Found in humid lowland forests from eastern Venezuela through the Guianas to Amazonia. Nectarivore and insectivore. The only member of its genus.
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.