This West African finch has red plumage and a short, thick bill. Research has documented two bill-size forms.
The adult male has a red body, deep crimson head and tail, a white eye ring, and a short, thick dark bill. The female is duller and lacks red on the flanks. Bill size occurs in two forms; the study found no association with sex, age, body size, or geographic origin.
It mainly eats seeds; insects are also recorded as food given to young during breeding.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.