A small, long-tailed bird of high elevation cloud forest. Slender, green lorikeet with a black bill, purple face, white stripe beneath the eye and a red-tipped tail. Male has a red cap. Western birds show a reddish patch across the lower chest. Travels in small vocal flocks. Told apart from other small montane lorikeets by unique face pattern. In flight, shows a red forewing, red undertail and a yellow bar in the wing. The Red and Yellow-billed Lorikeets are larger and have full red underwings. Call, a fast, high-pitched chattering.