Purple-throated Carib vs Gorgeted Sunangel
Eulampis jugularis compared with Heliangelus strophianus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Gorgeted Sunangel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Heliangelus strophianus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 13.2 cm (5.2 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 5.3999999999999995 g (0.19 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of high Andean shrublands; hovers at dense Ericaceae clumps. Takes small arthropods gleaned from … |
| 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.
Gorgeted Sunangel
High, thin whistle barely perceptible; delicate sustained note hovering near upper frequency limit of human hearing.
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.
Gorgeted Sunangel
Found on the western Andean slope in Colombia and northwestern Ecuador in cloud forest. 1,600–2,800 m.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Gorgeted Sunangel
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
Gorgeted Sunangel
Neblina Metaltail: males metallic green above; iridescent violet gorget; white underparts; females green above with pale spotted 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.
Gorgeted Sunangel
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in cloud forests of western Colombia and Ecuador at 1,500-2,500 m. Males have a spectacular iridescent gorget with pink and violet hues. Nectarivore of epiphyte-rich cloud forest. Classified as Endangered due to habitat loss.