Purple-throated Carib vs Green-backed Firecrown
Eulampis jugularis compared with Sephanoides sephaniodes
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Green-backed Firecrown |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Sephanoides sephaniodes |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 12.0 cm (4.7 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 6.583333333333333 g (0.23 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore foraging at diverse temperate-zone flowers in Chile and Argentina, including Fuchsia and Embothrium. Takes … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| 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.
Green-backed Firecrown
Crisp, whistled descending phrase; clean notes stepping down smoothly with precision and musical elegance at dawn.
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.
Green-backed Firecrown
Found along the length of Chile and western Argentina in temperate forest and scrub. Sea level to 2,000 m. Migratory.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Green-backed Firecrown
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
Green-backed Firecrown
Black Metaltail: males shining green with black-metallic gorget; white postocular stripe; females green above; white-spotted buff underparts
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.
Green-backed Firecrown
A medium-sized hummingbird (10-11 cm) found in temperate forests of southern South America from central Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego. Green plumage with coppery-green crown. The southernmost hummingbird species, tolerating sub-zero temperatures. Nectarivore of native Fuchsia and Embothrium.