A tiny honeyeater of mid-montane forest canopy and villages. Brown with a whitish belly and fairly short curved bill. Female has just a reddish smudge in the base of the bill and male a scarlet hood and rump with black wings and back. Male is unmistakable. Female is similar to other species, but smaller and only has red on the chin. Similar size to a flowerpecker, but Elfin has a longer, more curved bill. Song, a whistled “chew chew-daloo” and call a simple “tsip”.