Green-tailed Emerald vs Purple-throated Carib
Chlorostilbon alice compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-tailed Emerald | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorostilbon alice | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 3.5 g (0.12 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Venezuelan dry scrub, hovering at low shrub blooms. Catches gnats and spiders to … | 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
Green-tailed Emerald
Buzzy, sustained trill with insect-like quality; continuous high-frequency vibration with rapid amplitude modulation.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-tailed Emerald
Found in montane regions of Venezuela at 500-2,000 m elevation. A Venezuelan endemic or near-endemic.
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
Green-tailed Emerald
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-tailed Emerald
Elliot's Hummingbird (Elliotomyia): males with iridescent violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green; spots
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Green-tailed Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in montane regions of Venezuela at 500-2,000 m. Green plumage with a green tail. Nectarivore of forest edges and clearings. A Venezuelan endemic or near-endemic. Sometimes treated as a subspecies.
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.