Small, distinctive, brightly colored wattle-eye. Both sexes show green or blue eye wattles and a greenish-gray back. The pattern on the underparts varies geographically: in males, either yellow or chestnut; and in females, either yellow with a diffuse chestnut throat or yellow with a well-defined diamond of chestnut on the throat. Found in thick parts of the understory of humid forest. Generally uncommon and shy. The vocalizations include high whistles, rising “wheet” notes, and lower rasping notes, often given in sequence.