Purple-throated Carib vs Grey-bellied Comet
Eulampis jugularis compared with Taphrolesbia griseiventris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Grey-bellied Comet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Taphrolesbia griseiventris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 15.6 cm (6.1 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 8.94 g (0.32 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore of Peruvian dry inter-Andean valleys; visits sparse Chuquiraga blooms. Supplements with small 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.
Grey-bellied Comet
Crisp, musical chip with bright quality; single sharp note ringing cleanly, repeated at irregular but frequent intervals.
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.
Grey-bellied Comet
Endemic to the western Andean slope in Peru in arid scrub and intermontane valleys. 2,400–3,800 m. Highly restricted range.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Grey-bellied Comet
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
Grey-bellied Comet
White-bellied Woodstar: males with glittering violet gorget; metallic green above; white postocular stripe; females green above; spots
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.
Grey-bellied Comet
A medium-sized hummingbird (15-18 cm including long tail) endemic to a small range in the Andes of Peru at 3,000-3,500 m. Grey belly and long, forked tail. Nectarivore. Classified as Endangered due to an extremely restricted range. One of the rarest Andean hummingbirds.