Purple-throated Carib vs White-throated Hummingbird
Eulampis jugularis compared with Leucochloris albicollis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | White-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Leucochloris albicollis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 11.8 cm (4.6 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 5.95 g (0.21 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Visits flowering trees and epiphytes for nectar; supplements diet with small arthropods including gnats, midges, … |
| 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.
White-throated Hummingbird
Melodic, ascending three-note phrase; clear flute-like tones rising smoothly in pleasant morning territorial song.
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.
White-throated Hummingbird
Found from eastern Brazil through Uruguay to Argentina and Paraguay. Resident in Atlantic Forest and cerrado edges.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
White-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
White-throated Hummingbird
Black Coucal: males glossy black overall; red eye; long dark tail; females rufous-brown above; pale below; strongly dimorphic species
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.
White-throated Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found from eastern Brazil through Uruguay to Argentina and Paraguay. Green plumage with a clean white throat and breast. Nectarivore of Atlantic Forest edges, cerrado, and gardens. Common in southeastern South America.