A small sunbird of West and East Africa, found in habitats such as savanna and dry woodland. Males have iridescent plumage and long tail streamers, and both sexes feed at flowers.
Males have bright iridescent plumage and long tail streamers during breeding; females are more subdued. The species has a long, down-curved bill.
It visits flowers by day and takes nectar as well as insects, spiders, and fruit. It usually forages alone, sometimes in small groups, often perching on branches or hanging from flowers rather than hovering for long periods.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.