Purple-throated Carib vs Tawny-bellied Hermit
Eulampis jugularis compared with Phaethornis syrmatophorus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Tawny-bellied Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Phaethornis syrmatophorus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 12.2 cm (4.8 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 7.35 g (0.26 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore with elongated bill suited to pendant tubular flowers. Gleans small spiders and mites 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.
Tawny-bellied Hermit
High, crystalline twittering with silvery quality; rapid light notes cascading brightly in animated aerial display sequences.
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.
Tawny-bellied Hermit
Found on the eastern Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru in foothill and lower montane forest. 700–1,800 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Tawny-bellied Hermit
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
Tawny-bellied Hermit
Stripe-throated Hermit: iridescent violet-blue throat in males; metallic bronze-green above; white postocular stripe; white-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.
Tawny-bellied Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (13-15 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Peru at 1,200-2,500 m elevation. Green plumage with tawny-buff belly and long, curved bill. Nectarivore of montane forest undergrowth, visiting Heliconia and other tubular flowers.