Olive-yellow above with a streaked gray breast and belly. Fainter streaking that does not reach all the way to the vent, a paler belly, and a longer, more decurved bill distinguish it from slightly larger Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter. Forages actively at low and middle levels of lowland and hill forest. Produces a squeaky “tshe-yee tshe-yee!”, like wet shoes squeaking on a smooth surface.