This small bird inhabits Andean scrub and Polylepis woodland. Males are deep blue; females are mainly brown, with the extent of blue on the forehead and crown varying among subspecies.
Males are deep blue. Females are brown above and may show blue on the forehead and crown, but the extent varies among subspecies.
It lives in Andean scrub and Polylepis woodland, foraging among shrubs in pairs or small groups. The species account also mentions woodland with Gynoxys trees.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.