Beautiful Hummingbird vs Purple-throated Carib
Calothorax pulcher compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Beautiful Hummingbird | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calothorax pulcher | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 7.4 cm (2.9 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 2.6575 g (0.09 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from dry-forest flowers in Oaxaca, hovering at low scrub blooms. Catches gnats … | 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
Beautiful Hummingbird
Soft, pure whistle with plaintive character; gentle wavering tone fading gently in dense cloud forest shade.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Beautiful Hummingbird
Endemic to southwestern Mexico in Guerrero and Oaxaca. Resident in dry forest and thorn scrub at 600-2,000 m elevation.
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
Beautiful Hummingbird
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Beautiful Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird: males with brilliant sapphire-blue gorget; metallic green above; red-orange bill; females green above; spots
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Beautiful Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to southwestern Mexico in Guerrero and Oaxaca. Males have a magenta gorget similar to Lucifer Hummingbird. Long, decurved bill. Nectarivore of dry forest and thorn scrub. A Mexican endemic with restricted range.
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.