Fairly large hermit with rufous underparts and no elongated central tail feathers. Long decurved bill has a yellow lower mandible. Rounded tail is mostly rufous at the base with a black band and small white tips on each feather. Superficially similar to other hermits, but combination of tail shape and underpart color should be sufficient to identify. The very similar Bronzy Hermit does not overlap in range. An understory species that is fairly shy and most often seen feeding from Heliconia flowers.