This small hummingbird is endemic to Peru. It is recorded on the eastern Andean slopes in humid montane forest and scrub at 2,800–3,550 m.
At about 10.5 cm, it is small. The male has a coppery body and an iridescent green throat. The female is also coppery, with a less developed throat sheen and white spots at the tips of the outer tail feathers. Both sexes have a notched tail and a short, straight black bill.
It uses humid montane forest and scrub and is described as uncommon. The selected species account gives no detailed information about its food or breeding.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.