Purple-throated Carib vs Purple-throated Sunangel
Eulampis jugularis compared with Heliangelus viola
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Purple-throated Sunangel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Heliangelus viola |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 12.6 cm (5.0 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 5.433333333333333 g (0.19 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore strongly associated with Ericaceae in treeline habitats. Catches small insects on the wing for … |
| 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.
Purple-throated Sunangel
Soft, liquid warbling with gentle character; mellow notes flowing easily in quiet musical phrase at forest edge.
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.
Purple-throated Sunangel
Found in Andean cloud forests of southern Ecuador and northern Peru at 1,600–3,000 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Purple-throated 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
Purple-throated Sunangel
Peruvian Metaltail: males with iridescent violet gorget; metallic green back; very long bill; females green above; 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.
Purple-throated Sunangel
A small hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Ecuador to Peru at 1,800-3,200 m. Males have a deep purple-violet throat gorget. Green plumage. Nectarivore of montane forest edges, particularly partial to flowering Ericaceae shrubs.