Coppery-bellied Puffleg vs Purple-throated Carib
Eriocnemis cupreoventris compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Coppery-bellied Puffleg | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eriocnemis cupreoventris | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 12.6 cm (5.0 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 5.1 g (0.18 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Venezuelan Andean montane forest; visits Ericaceae and Fuchsia. Gleans small insects from flower … | 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
Coppery-bellied Puffleg
Thin, sibilant hiss with buzzy overtone; faint high-frequency trill barely audible in dense Andean cloud forest.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Coppery-bellied Puffleg
Found in cloud forests and scrub of Colombia and northern Venezuela at 1,800–3,200 m. Uncommon.
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
Coppery-bellied Puffleg
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Coppery-bellied Puffleg
Empress Brilliant: males with iridescent magenta gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted below
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Coppery-bellied Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia at 1,800-3,000 m. Males have a coppery-orange belly and white leg puffs. Nectarivore of cloud forest and forest edges. Classified as Vulnerable due to limited Colombian range and habitat loss.
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.