Green-throated Carib vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eulampis holosericeus compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-throated Carib | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis holosericeus | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 11.9 cm (4.7 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.916666666666667 g (0.21 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore specializing in Heliconia caribaea and other large-flowered Caribbean plants. Defends territories around nectar sources. | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, gardens, and parks with flowering plants. Migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.
Song & Call Comparison
Green-throated Carib
Deep, resonant churring with powerful bass; loud low-frequency trill audible at impressive range across open terrain.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Soft, high-pitched chattering and twittering 'chee-dit'. Also produces a thin 'tik' call in flight. Wing beats create an audible high-pitched humming buzz during hovering.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-throated Carib
Found throughout the Lesser Antilles from St. Kitts to Grenada in forest, gardens, and scrub. Sea level to 700 m.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Green-throated Carib
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-throated Carib
Black-thighed Puffleg: males shining olive-bronze above; glittering blue-violet gorget; black thighs; white leg puffs; females green above
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Metallic green upperparts and greyish-white underparts. Males have a brilliant iridescent ruby-red gorget that appears black in poor light. Females lack the gorget.
Long, straight, thin black bill adapted for probing flowers
About These Birds
Green-throated Carib
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) found across the Lesser Antilles from Puerto Rico to Grenada. Bright green plumage with a green throat patch. Nectarivore of gardens, forest edges, and plantations. One of the most common hummingbirds in the eastern Caribbean.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America. These tiny birds beat their wings about 53 times per second and can fly backwards, sideways, and even briefly upside down. They make an extraordinary non-stop 800 km crossing of the Gulf of Mexico during migration.