Males of the nominate subspecies have a shiny golden green forehead; the rest of the upperparts and the tail are bronze-green.

The throat is also shiny golden green with a black edge and the belly is deep blue; between them is a creamy white to pink band across the chest.

A. s. ilseae has dark violet ruffs, a violet-blue belly, and bluish green on the underside of the tail.

A. s. soaresi is the largest subspecies; in plumage it differs from the nominate only by having a blue line between the violet and green areas of the head.

It typically inhabits dry rocky areas with low vegetation (campos rupestres).

A. s. soaresi is limited to the upper reaches of the Piracicaba River basin in south-central Minas Gerais.

[4] The hyacinth visorbearer typically forages 2 to 3 m (6.6 to 9.8 ft) above ground, taking nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants including terrestrial bromeliads and cacti.

It has leaf and moss fragments attached with spider web to the outer surface and is lined with softer material.