Purple-throated Carib vs Green-tailed Trainbearer
Eulampis jugularis compared with Lesbia nuna
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Green-tailed Trainbearer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Lesbia nuna |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 10.3 cm (4.1 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 3.733333333333333 g (0.13 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of montane hedgerows and scrub; forages at diverse shrub flowers. Catches small insects in … |
| 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-tailed Trainbearer
Melodic, rolling phrase with liquid quality; warm bubbly notes tumbling loosely in pleasant continuous musical sequence.
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-tailed Trainbearer
Widespread in open Andean habitats from Colombia south through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. 1,500–4,000 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Green-tailed Trainbearer
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-tailed Trainbearer
Chiribiqute Emerald: tiny; males with iridescent violet gorget; metallic bronze-green above; white underparts; females green with 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-tailed Trainbearer
A medium-sized hummingbird (10 cm body + tail in males) found in Andean highlands from Venezuela to Peru at 2,000-3,800 m. Males have long green tail streamers, shorter than Black-tailed Trainbearer. Nectarivore of scrubby hillsides, gardens, and cloud forest edges.