A small bird of lowland wooded areas with a fairly long, slightly curved, stout bill and yellow underparts. Male has a pale gray throat, a dark reddish cheek and wing patch, a purplish-blue forehead and shoulder, and bottle green on the sides of the throat, the back of the neck, and the crown. Female is fairly drab, with a grayish-brown head and an olive-green back and rump. Male unmistakable. Female similar to several other species, but larger, with a broader bill. Voice not well known, but probably gives a loud “whip!” similar to Brown-throated Sunbird.