It is fairly common in humid highland forests in South America, mainly the Andes and tepuis.

The upperparts, head, and upper chest of the male are variously glossy green, reddish-bronze, or golden-green (depending on the subspecies).

The belly and lower breast are red; the latter separated from the greenish upper chest by a narrow white band.

The female is brown above, with a pinkish to red belly and breast; the white band separating brown and red on her underside is often either narrow or obscured.

[3] The masked trogon excavates a cavity nest in the soft wood of a rotting vertical tree trunk.