Purple-throated Carib vs Black-bellied Hummingbird
Eulampis jugularis compared with Eupherusa nigriventris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Black-bellied Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Eupherusa nigriventris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 9.4 cm (3.7 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 3.3200000000000003 g (0.12 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Feeds on nectar from diverse forest flowers, hovering briefly at each bloom. Takes small insects … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Black-bellied Hummingbird
Soft, high-pitched twittering barely audible; delicate minute notes cascading gently near flowering canopy.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-throated Carib
Found throughout the Lesser Antilles from Saba to Grenada. Prefers mature forest and flowering trees. Sea level to 800 m.
Black-bellied Hummingbird
Found in humid forests of Costa Rica and western Panama at 700-1,800 m. Resident in cloud forest undergrowth.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Black-bellied Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
Black-bellied Hummingbird
Pavonine Cuckoo: dark iridescent blue-green above; rufous underparts; pale supercilium; long blue-green tail; peacock-eye tail pattern
About These Birds
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.
Black-bellied Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in humid forests of Costa Rica and western Panama at 700-1,800 m. Males have a distinctive black belly contrasting with green breast. Nectarivore of cloud forest undergrowth and edges.