This small bird ranges from eastern Panama through Colombia into Venezuela. Males have a black crown and white cheeks; pairs or small groups may hang from leaves while searching for food.
It is about 9 cm long. Males have a black crown and nape with contrasting white cheeks and ear-coverts. Females are dull bluish-grey above, with a pale buff face and underparts and an olive tinge on the breast.
It occurs at lowland forest edges, in gallery forest and second growth, and in cacao plantations or trees in pastures. Most records are from sea level to 800 m. It forages in pairs or parties of 3–5, sometimes joining small mixed flocks, and may hang upside down from leaves. A Venezuelan record at 1,300 m is exceptional.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.