This sunbird lives in lowland and montane forest on Borneo and Sumatra, in Malaysia, and in southwestern Thailand. It is active by day, often in pairs or small family groups, and feeds mainly on nectar.
It is about 10–12.5 cm long. Males are mostly scarlet with a grey belly and long red tail. Females are dull olive, with rufous edges on the wing and tail feathers.
It is active by day and generally occurs in pairs or small family groups in lowland and montane forest. Nectar is its main recorded food category.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.