Bird Guide

Green-throated Carib vs Purple-throated Carib

Green-throated Carib (Eulampis holosericeus)

Green-throated Carib

Eulampis holosericeus

Tiny6 gUrban

The green-throated carib is a large hummingbird, 10.5 to 12 cm (4.1 to 4.7 in) long. Both sexes have a bright green back, though the female's is duller, and a bright green gorget. The male's gorget has a blue border that is usually not apparent. Males and females have a black belly, a green vent area, and a dark blue tail that appears black in poor light. The underparts of subspecies E. h. chlorolaemus are somewhat darker than those of the nominate. Males have a medium length slightly decurved bill; the female's is longer and more strongly curved. The calls include a sharp chup! or chuwp!.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Christoph Moning · CC BY 4.0
Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis)

Purple-throated Carib

Eulampis jugularis

Tiny9 gForest

The purple-throated carib is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long. Males weigh 9 to 12 g (0.32 to 0.42 oz) and females 7 to 10 g (0.25 to 0.35 oz); specimens of unrecorded sex weighed 6.7 to 10.8 g (0.24 to 0.38 oz). The adult male and female have the same plumage. Their crown and back are velvety black, the throat and chest fiery purplish red, the wings bright golden green, and the tail and its upper and lower coverts metallic greenish blue. The male has a medium length slightly decurved bill; the female's is longer and more strongly curved. Voice: The purple-throated carib's calls include "strident 'tsip' and sharp 'chewp'" notes that it repeats rapidly when agitated.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY 3.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Green-throated Carib and Purple-throated Carib.