Antillean Crested Hummingbird vs Purple-crowned Plovercrest

In short

The Antillean Crested Hummingbird and the Purple-crowned Plovercrest can be distinguished primarily by their crests and geographic range. The Antillean Crested Hummingbird has a distinctive, spiky crest that is absent in the Purple-crowned Plovercrest, which features a more rounded, purple crown. Both species are hummingbirds but occupy different regions, with the Antillean Crested found in the Lesser Antilles and the Purple-crowned Plovercrest in southeastern Brazil.

Identification tips

1. Look for the spiky crest on the Antillean Crested Hummingbird. 2. Note the purple crown on the Purple-crowned Plovercrest. 3. Consider the geographic location: Antillean Crested in the Lesser Antilles, Purple-crowned Plovercrest in southeastern Brazil. 4. Observe the habitat: gardens and clearings for Antillean Crested, montane forests for Purple-crowned Plovercrest.

Size

Both species are small hummingbirds, but size is not a reliable differentiator in the field.

Plumage

The Antillean Crested Hummingbird has a spiky crest and a generally dark plumage with iridescent green. The Purple-crowned Plovercrest features a rounded purple crown and a green body, lacking the spiky crest.

Behaviour

Both species exhibit typical hummingbird behavior, such as rapid flight and hovering while feeding on nectar.

Habitat

The Antillean Crested Hummingbird is found in the Lesser Antilles and eastern Puerto Rico, often in gardens and clearings. The Purple-crowned Plovercrest inhabits montane forests and edges in southeastern Brazil.

Voice

Vocalizations are not the primary distinguishing feature for these species and are not well-documented for field identification.