Its throat and breast are yellow brightening to gold or orange on the belly; the flanks have black spots.

[5] The five-colored barbet is found from central Chocó Department in western Colombia south into Ecuador's most northwesterly province, Esmeraldas.

It inhabits wet primary and mature secondary forest and their edges and disturbed areas.

[5] The five-colored barbet's song is a "low-pitched, hollow, hoop trill" [1]; both sexes sing.

"[Its] population is thought to be small and suspected to be in decline due to the loss and degradation of habitat.