Purple-throated Carib vs Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Eulampis jugularis compared with Lampornis clemenciae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Blue-throated Mountain-gem |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Lampornis clemenciae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 14.7 cm (5.8 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 7.25 g (0.26 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of US and Mexican highland forest; visits diverse flowers at medium to high elevation. … |
| 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.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Rough, nasal chatter with emphatic delivery; series of coarse buzzy notes audible from considerable distance.
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.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Found from the mountains of southern Arizona south through Mexico to Honduras in pine-oak forest. 1,400–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
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
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Calliope Hummingbird (alt): males with iridescent blue gorget; metallic green body; white pectoral tufts; females green; spotted below
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.
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
A large hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in mountain canyons of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Males have a brilliant blue throat gorget. The largest hummingbird breeding in the US. Nectarivore of mountain meadows and garden feeders. Known for its loud, squeaky call.