Chunky hummingbird with a long, mostly straight bill. Male’s bluish-purple forecrown and mostly black underparts are distinctive. Female lacks black and has a green forecrown; she is very similar to female Green-fronted Lancebill but is smaller, has less extensive bronzy tones on the head, a bluish tail, and a lighter forecrown. Typically found in middle elevation cloud forest, often near streams. In the Andean part of its range, it is only found on the east slope. Visits feeders.