Purple-throated Carib

Overview

The Purple-throated Carib is found across much of the Lesser Antilles, inhabiting forest, forest edge, plantations, and gardens with flowering plants. It is often one of the larger and more conspicuous hummingbirds present on the islands it inhabits, and its bill and body size can vary somewhat between island populations adapted to locally available flower shapes.

Males show a rich, dark green body with a brilliant magenta-purple throat patch that flashes vividly in good light but can appear dark or blackish in shade, a common feature of iridescent hummingbird gorgets.

Feather ID Notes

The throat feathers show a striking magenta-purple iridescence, distinctly set off from the dark green body plumage. The wings and tail are dark, with little additional patterning beyond the body's green and the throat's purple.

• Throat feathers: magenta-purple, iridescent, can look black in shade
• Body feathers: dark green overall
• Tail feathers: dark, moderately long
• Bill: notably decurved, with length varying somewhat by island population Females lack the purple throat, appearing green above with paler, sometimes grayish underparts, and often have a more strongly decurved bill than males on the same island.

Plumage Details

Adult males show the vivid magenta-purple throat against dark green body plumage. Females are duller, without the iridescent throat patch, and often show subtle differences in bill curvature adapted to different flower types compared to males. Juveniles resemble females. There is no strong seasonal plumage change, with an annual molt maintaining feather quality.

Habitat & Range

This species is found across much of the Lesser Antilles, occupying forest, forest edge, plantations, and gardens with abundant flowering plants. It is generally resident within its island range rather than migratory, though some local movement between habitats can occur.

Behavior & Field Notes

Purple-throated Caribs feed on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, including certain Heliconia species closely associated with the genus across its range, and also take small insects. They can be territorial around good nectar sources. Nests are cup-shaped structures built in vegetation, sometimes suspended beneath large leaves. Calls include sharp chip notes and chattering during interactions with other hummingbirds.