Garden Emerald vs Purple-throated Carib
Chlorostilbon assimilis compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Garden Emerald | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlorostilbon assimilis | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 9.0 cm (3.5 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 3.55 g (0.13 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar in lowland Panama gardens and woodland. Catches small 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
Garden Emerald
Thin, sibilant buzz with wavering quality; soft high trill with gentle tremolo effect during hover display.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Garden Emerald
Found in humid lowlands from Costa Rica to northern Colombia on the Pacific slope. Resident in gardens and second growth.
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
Garden Emerald
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Garden Emerald
Plain-bellied Emerald: males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic green above; plain whitish belly; females green above; spotted
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Garden Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid lowlands from Costa Rica to northern Colombia. Bright green plumage. Nectarivore of gardens, second growth, and forest edges. Closely related to Canivet's Emerald. Found primarily on the Pacific slope.
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.