Purple-throated Carib vs Butterfly Coquette
Eulampis jugularis compared with Lophornis verreauxii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Butterfly Coquette |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Lophornis verreauxii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 8.6 cm (3.4 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of humid forest clearings; compact size allows access to small flowers. Gleans tiny arthropods … |
| Clutch Size | 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.
Butterfly Coquette
Buzzy, insect-like trill sustained briefly; continuous high-frequency vibration then sudden silence, disorienting in quality.
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.
Butterfly Coquette
Found on western Andean slope and Pacific lowlands of Colombia and Ecuador. Sea level to 1,200 m.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Butterfly 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
Butterfly Coquette
Amethyst Woodstar: males with glittering teal-blue gorget and amethyst crown; metallic bronze-green above; 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.
Butterfly Coquette
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm) found in humid forests from Venezuela and Colombia to Peru and Bolivia. Males have wispy green cheek plumes and a white breast band. Nectarivore of forest edges and clearings. Named for the French ornithologists Jules and Edouard Verreaux.