Purple-throated Carib vs Short-tailed Woodstar
Eulampis jugularis compared with Myrmia micrura
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Short-tailed Woodstar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Myrmia micrura |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 6.8 cm (2.7 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 2.1999999999999997 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of Peruvian coastal scrub and lomas vegetation; visits small flowers. Catches tiny insects in … |
| 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.
Short-tailed Woodstar
Rapid, light chips in cheerful animated sequence; bright staccato notes with buoyant quality near flowers.
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.
Short-tailed Woodstar
Found in arid scrub and coastal desert of Peru and far northern Chile. Sea level to 2,000 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Short-tailed Woodstar
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
Short-tailed Woodstar
Santa Marta Sabrewing: males with glittering ruby-red gorget; metallic green above; white postocular stripe; females green; spotted
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.
Short-tailed Woodstar
A tiny hummingbird (6-7 cm), one of the smallest birds in the world. Found in arid coastal Peru and Ecuador. Short tail, short bill, and tiny body. Nectarivore of desert scrub and dry woodland flowers. Weighs only 2-3 grams.