Purple-throated Carib vs White-tipped Sicklebill
Eulampis jugularis compared with Eutoxeres aquila
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | White-tipped Sicklebill |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Eutoxeres aquila |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 14.1 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 11.366666666666667 g (0.40 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Feeds on floral nectar and small invertebrates; males defend nectar-rich territories against other hummingbirds. |
| 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.
White-tipped Sicklebill
Rapid, sibilant twittering; light, feathery notes cascading quickly with barely perceptible pauses between loose phrases.
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.
White-tipped Sicklebill
Found in humid forests from Costa Rica south through Panama to western Ecuador. Resident at 200–1,600 m in dense undergrowth with Heliconia.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
White-tipped Sicklebill
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
White-tipped Sicklebill
Dark brown and buff striped underparts; green-bronze upperparts; white-tipped tail feathers; extremely curved sickle-shaped bill; sexes similar; Andean heliconia specialist with diagnostic strongly decurved bill and boldly streaked underparts.
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.
White-tipped Sicklebill
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-14 cm) with a dramatically decurved bill, adapted for extracting nectar from curved Heliconia flowers. Green plumage with a buff-streaked breast and white-tipped tail. Found in humid forests from Costa Rica to Peru. A specialized pollinator.