The bill of this species is reddish with a black tip, fairly long, and slightly decurved. The crown usually appears flat. Male: Deep blue gorget blends into metallic green underparts. Undertail coverts are pale gray. Upperparts are bronzy-green. The tail is blue-black with gray tip, and is deeply notched. Female: Bronzy-green above, pale gray below, with a mostly unmarked whitish throat. An indistinct whitish line extends back from the eye, framing the dusky gray cheek. The tail is square-tipped, green at the base, and blackish on the end. The three outer sets of tail feathers have small white tips. Juveniles resemble adult female. Young males have scattered blue feathers on the throat.

Length: 8 (cm) Wingspan: 13 (cm)

Voice:

Call is a two-syllable chi-dit.

Habitat:

Riparian habitats in dry canyons.

Behavior:

Male performs a "pendulum display," consisting of four sideways archs in front of female.

Feeding:

Feeds on floral nectar and small insects.