Purple throated Carib HummingBird

Purple throated Carib Hummingbird

(Eulampis jugularis) 

Photographed in the wild,

Island of St. Lucia   Apr 2012

The Purple-Throated Carib is a large, beautifully colored hummingbird found on most islands of the Lesser Antilles (also known as the Caribbean Islands). This species is endemic to this area, which means that it is not found outside the Lesser Antilles.

One common feature of hummingbirds is that they have iridescent colors, colors that arise through interplay between structural features of their feathers and the light. Depending on the direction of the light, the iridescent throat can appear brilliant purple, dull purple or black.

Male Purple-Throated Caribs are larger than females, but the bill of the female is 30% longer and twice as curved as the bill of the male.

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