Males have an iridescent violet back, while females are brown above. This small sunbird lives in forests and woodland in eastern Africa.
The male has iridescent violet upperparts; the female is brown above. Both have pale gray underparts, which can look yellow-washed on the female.
It occurs in forest and woodland at low to middle elevations.
The bill is unusually short and warbler-like.
The back of the head is brownish.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.