Purple-throated Carib vs Rufous-throated Hummingbird
Eulampis jugularis compared with Hylocharis sapphirina
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Rufous-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Hylocharis sapphirina |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | — |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 4.239999999999999 g (0.15 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore visiting diverse flowering plants; supplements the high-sugar nectar diet with small insects and spiders … |
| 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.
Rufous-throated Hummingbird
Sharp, piercing screech with urgent character; sudden loud rough call given during aerial territorial chase.
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.
Rufous-throated Hummingbird
Found in humid lowland forests from Colombia through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Resident in forest edges.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Rufous-throated 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
Rufous-throated Hummingbird
Violet Coucal: brilliant violet-blue iridescent body; rufous wings; dark graduated tail; red eye; violet iridescence distinctive
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.
Rufous-throated Hummingbird
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid lowland forests from Colombia through Amazonia to Bolivia and Brazil. Males have a rufous-red throat. Green plumage. Nectarivore of forest edges and river-edge habitats. Often confused with the similar Gilded Hummingbird.