Medium-sized charismatic hummingbird with an iridescent green body and short, straight bill. Males have a violet-blue crest and are violet below with light gray flanks. Females have a less prominent crest, lack the violet belly seen on males, and have a prominent white spot behind the eye. Resembles Green-crowned Plovercrest, but males have a purple (not green) crest and has less extensive violet below. Female Purple-crowned Plovercrests have slightly larger white tips to the outer tail feathers than Green-crowned Plovercrest. Inhabits the understory of lowland and montane forests, light woodland and riparian forests.