Purple-throated Carib vs Purple-crowned Plovercrest
Eulampis jugularis compared with Stephanoxis loddigesii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Purple-crowned Plovercrest |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Stephanoxis loddigesii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 9.5 cm (3.7 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 3.2 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Hovering nectarivore of lowland and montane forest, probing Heliconia and garden flowers. Supplements with insects … |
| 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.
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
High, insect-like buzz sustained steadily; thin monotone with rapid modulation barely distinguishable from background insects.
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.
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
Found in southeastern Brazil. Resident in Atlantic Forest edges and secondary growth. An Atlantic Forest near-endemic.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
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
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
Fischer's Turaco: brilliant metallic green body; crimson crest; white facial streak; green orbital ring; crimson flight feathers
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.
Purple-crowned Plovercrest
A small hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in southeastern Brazil. Males have a purple-violet crest. Nectarivore of Atlantic Forest edges and secondary growth. Recently split from Green-crowned Plovercrest. An Atlantic Forest near-endemic.