A spectacular small, short-tailed songbird. Both sexes show a scarlet cap, nape, and rump and contrasting black wings. Male has black cheeks, a red throat with a lower black border, and a black vertical line on the belly, all lacking in females, which are plain whitish below with a wholly red back. Juvenile resembles a pale-billed female, but with red confined to rump. Found in forest, forest edge, and forest patches in lowlands and foothills. Confined to the Lesser Sundas. Red cap and nape diagnostic, separating this bird from Blood-breasted Flowerpecker. Vocalizations include a rising then descending “twitiwee-swit-swit-swoo.” Also gives a high-pitched thin “tzeet” as well as harsher, shorter abrupt “tsik” notes.