Purple-throated Carib vs White-crested Coquette
Eulampis jugularis compared with Lophornis adorabilis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | White-crested Coquette |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Lophornis adorabilis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 7.6 cm (3.0 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 2.645 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of cloud-forest borders; forages at diverse small flowers. Catches tiny insects in rapid hovering … |
| 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-crested Coquette
Harsh, crackling buzz with emphatic onset; abrupt rough trill issuing suddenly from dense shrub then stopping.
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-crested Coquette
Found from Costa Rica south through Panama to western Colombia on the Pacific slope in foothill forest. 300–1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
White-crested Coquette
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-crested Coquette
Anna's Hummingbird: males with glittering rose-red gorget extending to crown; metallic green back; females green with spotted throat
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-crested Coquette
A tiny hummingbird (7 cm) found in humid forests and edges of Costa Rica and western Panama. Males have a white crest and rufous cheek plumes. Green plumage. Nectarivore of forest canopy and edges. The species epithet adorabilis reflects its charming appearance.