Purple-throated Carib vs Ecuadorian Piedtail
Eulampis jugularis compared with Phlogophilus hemileucurus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Ecuadorian Piedtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Phlogophilus hemileucurus |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 10.0 cm (3.9 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 2.56 g (0.09 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of Andean foothill undergrowth; visits small epiphyte and Heliconia flowers. Supplements with arthropods. |
| 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.
Ecuadorian Piedtail
High, crystalline notes in musical phrase; clear bright sequence ascending smoothly in cheerful morning vocalisation.
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.
Ecuadorian Piedtail
Found on both Andean slopes in Ecuador in humid foothill and lower montane forest. 400–1,600 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Ecuadorian Piedtail
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
Ecuadorian Piedtail
Costa's Hummingbird: males with brilliant violet gorget with elongated side gorget feathers; metallic green above; females plain 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.
Ecuadorian Piedtail
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in Andean cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador at 1,000-2,000 m. Green plumage with white-tipped tail and dusky breast. Nectarivore of montane forest. Found in dense, mossy cloud forest understory. Uncommon.