Beneath the throat is a coppery-red gorget that tappers as it moves up the side of the breast, all the way to the eyes.

The rest of the underparts are a silky dark-green, except for the lower tail-coverts, which is more of a light brownish colour.

The drabber female has a dark brown to blackish head, lighter, dark brownish wings and back, dusky light brown underparts with heavy barring, and a similar tail to the male, but without a spatulate tip and a much more reduced amount of white on the upper tail.

A very distinguishable, insect-like "tik to-keet" note[2] is produced by the birds with varying speed, and the "keet" portion sounding akin to a brief whistle; however they also make frog-like croaks, yelps composed of "wroo-wree woo" notes, and simple "teeks" and "toks".

[5] Its distribution is largely confined to the central and western highlands of New Guinea, with the nominate race splendidissima being found from the Weyland Mountains to the Paniai Lakes, and race helios native found east of the Paniai Lakes to the Hindenburg Range, and possibly to the Victor Emanuel Range.