A small sunbird with a relatively short, slightly downcurved bill. Males are colorful, with blue and purple iridescence on the head and breast and orange and yellow on the belly. Females are fairly drab, with a dark-spotted white breast and a yellow belly. Found in all habitats on the islands of Grand Comoro and Moheli. Found alongside Madagascar Sunbird, but much smaller, with a shorter, weaker bill. Males further separated by their paler yellow belly, and females by having less streaking on the underparts and no conspicuous pale eyebrow. The song is a typical sunbird jumble of squeaky notes, and the call is a rising whine.