Glowing Puffleg vs Purple-throated Carib
Eriocnemis vestita compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Glowing Puffleg | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eriocnemis vestita | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 4.716666666666666 g (0.17 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian and Ecuadorian Ericaceae-rich shrublands. Supplements nectar with small arthropods near blooms. | 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
Glowing Puffleg
High, thin chip note with sibilant ending; soft twittering sequence given quietly during foraging near Andean flowers.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Glowing Puffleg
Widespread in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,800–3,400 m.
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
Glowing Puffleg
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Glowing Puffleg
Pink-throated Brilliant: males with iridescent blue-violet gorget; metallic green above; white underparts; females green above; spotted
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Glowing Puffleg
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Venezuela to Peru at 2,400-3,500 m. Bright green plumage with conspicuous white leg puffs. Nectarivore of montane forest and gardens. One of the most common and widespread puffleg species.
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.