White-tailed Sabrewing vs Purple-throated Carib
Campylopterus ensipennis compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-tailed Sabrewing | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Campylopterus ensipennis | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 15.2 cm (6.0 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 9.866666666666667 g (0.35 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from highland forest flowers in Venezuela. Supplements diet with insects and spiders … | 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
White-tailed Sabrewing
Rough, buzzy chatter with energetic rhythm; coarse notes delivered rapidly with raw buzzy texture from perch.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-tailed Sabrewing
Found in northeastern Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Resident in humid forest undergrowth.
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
White-tailed Sabrewing
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
White-tailed Sabrewing
Ross's Turaco: brilliant purple-blue body with yellow facial skin and bill; crimson flight feathers; long graduated tail; unique colors
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
White-tailed Sabrewing
A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in humid forests of northeastern Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Green plumage with white outer tail feathers. Nectarivore of forest undergrowth. Classified as Near Threatened in Venezuela; common on Trinidad and Tobago.
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.