Purple-throated Carib vs Peruvian Sheartail
Eulampis jugularis compared with Thaumastura cora
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-throated Carib | Peruvian Sheartail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eulampis jugularis | Thaumastura cora |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 in) |
| Weight | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) | 2.4 g (0.08 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … | Nectarivore hovering at low-growing flowers in coastal scrub. Supplements nectar diet with tiny spiders and … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Purple-throated Carib only
Peruvian Sheartail only
Song & Call Comparison
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Peruvian Sheartail
Delicate, purring trill with silvery shimmer; thin high notes given softly near Peruvian Andean flowers at altitude.
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.
Peruvian Sheartail
Found along the arid Pacific coast of Peru from Lima to Tacna. Resident in desert scrub and coastal gardens at low elevations.
Conservation Status
Purple-throated Carib
Peruvian Sheartail
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
Peruvian Sheartail
Sparkling Violetear (alt): males with deep iridescent violet gorget; metallic green body; iridescent ear patches; females green with 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.
Peruvian Sheartail
A tiny hummingbird (7-8 cm plus elongated tail in males, total 13-14 cm) found in arid coastal Peru. Males have a deeply forked, sheartail-shaped tail with elongated outer feathers. Nectarivore of desert scrub and gardens. A Peruvian near-endemic of coastal Sechura desert habitats.