A large sunbird with a long tail and a long decurved bill. The male has a pale gray belly and a relatively broad red breast band. The female is overall gray-brown. Pairs and small groups visit a broad variety of habitats. The species gives a wheezy, repeated grating “skeet” call and a high-pitched song of up-and-down notes. The only similar species it overlaps with is Southern Double-collared Sunbird, which differs by being 20% smaller, with a shorter and more delicate bill, a much narrower red breast band in the male, and a faster song.