[citation needed] This is one of the smallest birds in existence, marginally larger than the bee hummingbird.

The adult male scintillant hummingbird has bronze-green upperparts and a rufous and black-striped tail.

[3] The female is similar, but her throat is buff with small green spots and the flanks are richer rufous.

The food of S. scintilla is nectar, taken from a variety of small flowers, including Salvia and species normally pollinated by insects.

In the breeding season, scintillant hummingbird males perch conspicuously in open areas with Salvia and defend their feeding territories aggressively with diving displays.