A sunbird of Madagascar's forests. Males are larger and darker than females and use a long, strong bill to feed on nectar; they also take spiders and insects from flowers.
Males are larger and darker than Souimanga Sunbirds and have a long, strong bill. Females are less conspicuously colored than males.
In forest it forages in the mid-story and canopy and has been recorded up to 2,050 m. It mainly takes nectar but also captures spiders and insects from flowers.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.