Purple-throated Carib vs Blue-vented Hummingbird
Eulampis jugularis compared with Saucerottia hoffmanni
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Blue-vented Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Saucerottia hoffmanni |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | — |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 4.85 g (0.17 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Feeds on nectar from Costa Rican lowland forest flowers and gardens. Supplements diet with small … |
| 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.
Blue-vented Hummingbird
Harsh, nasal chatter with emphatic delivery; rough buzzy notes delivered rapidly with coarse texture.
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.
Blue-vented Hummingbird
Found in dry to semi-humid habitats from Honduras to Costa Rica. Resident in gardens and forest edges.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Blue-vented Hummingbird
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
Blue-vented Hummingbird
Sunda Coucal: dark glossy brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long graduated dark tail; red eye; forest dweller
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.
Blue-vented Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in dry to semi-humid habitats from Honduras to Costa Rica. Green plumage with blue vent. Nectarivore of gardens, scrub, and forest edges. Named after the German naturalist Karl Hoffmann. A Central American near-endemic.