Xantus's Hummingbird vs Purple-throated Carib
Basilinna xantusii compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Xantus's Hummingbird | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Basilinna xantusii | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 10.2 cm (4.0 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 3.525 g (0.12 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Endemic to Baja California; feeds on nectar from desert blooms and supplements with small 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
Xantus's Hummingbird
High, crystalline twittering with bright silvery quality; rapid light notes cascading freely in aerial display.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Xantus's Hummingbird
Endemic to the cape region of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Resident in dry scrub and thorn forest.
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
Xantus's Hummingbird
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Xantus's Hummingbird
Great Blue Turaco: large; brilliant turquoise-blue body; yellow-red bill; red-tipped yellow crest; black-tipped blue tail; unique
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Xantus's Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the cape region of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Green plumage with a rufous-chestnut breast and white eye-stripe. Nectarivore of dry scrub and thorn forest. A Baja California endemic named after Hungarian naturalist John Xantus.
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.