A Bornean highland specialty, this is for the most part the only flowerpecker inhabiting the island’s montane forests. Male is striking, with a glossy dark blue back and bright red bib. Female is duller, with a gray head, yellow-olive back, pale yellow flanks and rump, and a pale throat; no other female flowerpecker has this patterning, and other flowerpecker species do not overlap significantly in range anyhow. Forages actively at all levels of forest. Clicks loudly and persistently; also gives high thin “tseeep”s.