Purple-throated Carib vs Coppery Metaltail
Eulampis jugularis compared with Metallura theresiae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Coppery Metaltail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Metallura theresiae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 11.7 cm (4.6 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 4.925000000000001 g (0.17 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of Peruvian cloud forest; forages at Ericaceae and epiphytic orchids. Gleans tiny arthropods from … |
| 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.
Coppery Metaltail
Deep, resonant trill with buzzing quality; powerful low-frequency churring vibrating through dense tropical vegetation.
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.
Coppery Metaltail
Endemic to Peru in the Cordillera Negra region of the western Andes at 3,000–4,400 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Coppery Metaltail
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
Coppery Metaltail
Purple-throated Mountain-gem: tiny; males with brilliant blue-violet gorget; metallic green above; females green above; 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.
Coppery Metaltail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) endemic to the Andes of central Peru at 2,500-3,800 m. Males have a coppery-bronze tail. Nectarivore of cloud forest and elfin forest edges. A Peruvian endemic. Named after the botanical collector Therese, Princess of Bavaria.