Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird vs Purple-throated Carib
Chrysuronia lilliae compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysuronia lilliae | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 4.3 g (0.15 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting diverse flowering plants; supplements the high-sugar nectar diet with small insects and spiders … | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird only
Purple-throated Carib only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird
Soft, buzzy trill barely audible; rapid light notes barely perceptible at distance in dense vegetation.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird
Endemic to northern Colombia. Critically Endangered with a tiny population in Caribbean coastal 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-bellied Hummingbird
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird
Burchell's Coucal: white supercilium; streaked brown above; rufous wings; pale white below; long tail; red eye; distinctive eyebrow
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to northern Colombia. Males have a sapphire-blue belly. Nectarivore of mangroves and dry forest. Critically Endangered with a very small population restricted to a tiny area of Caribbean Colombia.
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.