Purple-throated Carib vs Brace's Emerald
Eulampis jugularis compared with Riccordia bracei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Brace's Emerald |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Riccordia bracei |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | — |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 3.54 g (0.12 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Extinct emerald; was a nectarivore of Bahamian scrub, likely visiting flowering shrubs and supplementing with … |
| 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.
Brace's Emerald
Soft, melodic warbling with gentle rhythm; notes rising and falling in quiet unhurried phrase through shaded area.
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.
Brace's Emerald
Formerly endemic to New Providence Island, Bahamas. Extinct since the late 19th century. Known from a single 1877 specimen.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Brace's 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
Brace's Emerald
Green-bellied Hummingbird: males with brilliant green gorget and belly; metallic green above; females green above; spotted white 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.
Brace's Emerald
An extinct hummingbird formerly endemic to New Providence Island, Bahamas. Known from a single specimen collected in 1877. Green plumage. Lost to habitat destruction and possibly predation by introduced mammals. No confirmed sightings since the 19th century.