Brown Inca vs Purple-throated Carib
Coeligena wilsoni compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brown Inca | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coeligena wilsoni | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 6.88 g (0.24 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Ecuadorian cloud forest; defends Ericaceae territories. Supplements with small arthropods. | 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
Brown Inca
Bright, musical rolling trill; cheerful bubbly notes cascading pleasantly from flowering shrub in Andean valley.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brown Inca
Found on the Pacific slope and western Andes of Colombia and Ecuador at 700–2,000 m. Fairly common.
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
Brown Inca
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Brown Inca
Turquoise-mantled Puffleg: males with iridescent turquoise mantle; metallic green above; white leg puffs; females green above; spots
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Brown Inca
A medium-sized hummingbird (13-14 cm) found in cloud forests of the western Andes from Colombia to Ecuador at 800-2,200 m. Dark brown plumage with rufous wing patches. Nectarivore of Chocó cloud forest undergrowth. Closely related to Bronzy 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.