Purple-throated Carib vs White-tailed Emerald
Eulampis jugularis compared with Microchera chionura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | White-tailed Emerald |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Microchera chionura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | — |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 3.2 g (0.11 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 | -- |
| 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-tailed Emerald
Melodic, flute-like phrase with warm timbre; smooth notes flowing in relaxed quiet progression at forest edge.
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-tailed Emerald
Found in humid forests of western Panama and extreme western Colombia. Resident in lowland and foothill forest.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
White-tailed Emerald
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-tailed Emerald
Bengal Florican: males with black head and underparts; white wings; brown back; females sandy-brown all over; highly dimorphic
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-tailed Emerald
A small hummingbird (8-9 cm) found in humid forests of western Panama and extreme western Colombia. Green plumage with white outer tail feathers. Nectarivore of forest edges. Closely related to Coppery-headed Emerald. A Central American near-endemic.