Gould's Inca vs Purple-throated Carib
Coeligena inca compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Gould's Inca | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena inca | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.6 cm (5.7 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 7.0 g (0.25 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Peruvian and Bolivian cloud forest; forages at diverse Ericaceae and Clusia blooms. Gleans … | 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
Gould's Inca
Pure, bell-like tone with long resonance; single clear note ringing out in open Andean grassland then fading.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Gould's Inca
Endemic to the eastern Andean slopes of Peru and Bolivia in cloud forest at 1,200–2,800 m elevation.
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
Gould's Inca
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Gould's Inca
Shining Sunbeam (alt): males with brilliant violet gorget; metallic bronze-green; large white tuft; females plain; white pectoral tuft
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Gould's Inca
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in Andean cloud forests of Peru and Bolivia at 2,000-3,000 m. Green plumage similar to Collared Inca. Nectarivore of montane forest. Named after John Gould. Sometimes considered a subspecies of Collared Inca.
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.