Grey-breasted Sabrewing vs Purple-throated Carib
Campylopterus largipennis compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey-breasted Sabrewing | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Campylopterus largipennis | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.5 cm (5.7 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 7.980000000000001 g (0.28 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from Amazonian understory flowers, favouring Heliconia. 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
Grey-breasted Sabrewing
Soft, melodic warbling with gentle flowing quality; notes weaving smoothly in quiet musical phrase. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Grey-breasted Sabrewing
Widely distributed in humid forests from Venezuela through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Resident in lowland forests.
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
Grey-breasted Sabrewing
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey-breasted Sabrewing
Livingstone's Turaco: rich glossy green body; long green crest with white tips; white facial stripe; crimson flight feathers; red bill
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Grey-breasted Sabrewing
A large hummingbird (13-15 cm) widely distributed in humid forests from Venezuela through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Grey breast, green plumage, and thickened outer wing feathers (the sabrewing trait). Nectarivore of forest undergrowth and edges.
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.