Males show orange tufts at the sides of the chest and have a long, down-curved bill. It feeds mainly on nectar and also brings insects to its nestlings.
The male has a long, down-curved black bill. Orange tufts appear at the sides of its chest from November to June, though folded wings can hide them; females and juveniles are grey-brown above with pale underparts.
It feeds mainly on nectar, extracting it with its long tongue, and also catches small insects to feed its nestlings.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.