Purple-throated Carib vs Green-crowned Brilliant
Eulampis jugularis compared with Heliodoxa jacula
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Green-crowned Brilliant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Heliodoxa jacula |
| 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) | 7.633333333333333 g (0.27 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of Central American and Colombian cloud forest; visits diverse montane flowers. Catches 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.
Green-crowned Brilliant
Harsh, crackling buzz with emphatic onset; abrupt rough trill issuing from scrub then stopping sharply.
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.
Green-crowned Brilliant
Found in humid foothill and lower montane forest from Costa Rica south through Colombia and Ecuador to Peru. 400–1,600 m.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Green-crowned Brilliant
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
Green-crowned Brilliant
Oasis Hummingbird: males with iridescent purple gorget; metallic bronze-green above; white underparts; females green above; spots
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.
Green-crowned Brilliant
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in humid forests from Guatemala to Ecuador at 400-2,000 m. Males have a brilliant green crown and throat. Nectarivore of forest canopy and edges. Named for its shining, jewel-like green crown.