A small sunbird with a short, slightly curved bill. Males are dark above and bright white below with an iridescent blue-green head and chest. Females are gray above and white below with an indistinct white eyebrow. Found very locally in forest and lush woodland at low elevations, mostly in the canopy. Female is similar to female violet-backed sunbirds, but is separated by the smaller size and the lack of a yellow wash on the underparts. The most distinctive vocalization is a two-part “twee-tree,” but also gives typical jumbled sunbird song.