Sapphire-throated Hummingbird vs Purple-throated Carib
Chrysuronia coeruleogularis compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sapphire-throated Hummingbird | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysuronia coeruleogularis | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 4.133333333333333 g (0.15 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on floral nectar in forest understory, hovering at Heliconia and bromeliads. Supplements with spiders … | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird only
Purple-throated Carib only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
High, thin chip note with silvery sibilant ending; soft twittering sequence given quietly during active foraging.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
Found in tropical lowlands from Honduras to Venezuela and Ecuador. Resident in Caribbean lowland habitats.
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
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
White-browed Coucal: white supercilium; brown-streaked above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; bold eye stripe
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in tropical lowlands from Honduras to Venezuela and Ecuador. Males have a deep sapphire-blue throat. Green body. Nectarivore of forest edges and gardens. Found primarily in Caribbean lowland habitats.
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.