The underparts are pale grey with white throat and undertail-coverts.

The eyes are bright coral-red, for which the bird is named.

It is found in central and southern Chile, southwestern Argentina, and Tierra del Fuego.

Vagrant birds have occurred just eastwards of Tierra del Fuego in the Falkland Islands.

[2][3] This species was formerly placed in the genus Xolmis but was moved to the resurrected genus Pyrope following the publication of a genetic analysis in 2020.