This bird lives in dry forest and scrubland in northern South America where it feeds on insects and the nectar, flesh, and juice of cactus fruits.

The back and upper parts of the bird are a dull green, the underparts pale cinnamon-buff and the belly and undertail coverts white.

[3] The hummingbird is a member of the class Aves, the order Apodiformes, the family Trochilidae and the genus Leucippus.

[8] During December to April, a period marked by minimal rainfall, the bird is generally found in areas with heavy thorn tree populations.

[8] Most buffy hummingbird nests are found between the months of May and November, so breeding is believed to occur during this period of time.

It is composed of the soft fibers of the tree cotton and decorated externally with bits of bark, lichen and leaf.