A huge, spectacular hummingbird. Males are bright shimmering emerald with blue wings. Females are greenish above with cinnamon underparts. The bill is medium-length and slightly upturned. Larger than almost all other hummingbirds, with slower wingbeats compared with the typical hummingbird blur. Occurs in montane forest and edges in the Andes from northern Colombia to Bolivia, typically from around 2,800 m to around treeline. Visits feeders.