The plumage is glossy violet, except for the yellow forehead, chestnut crown and white ear coverts; the bill is thick and red.

It is resident of West Africa, and has an extremely large range from Senegal through to Nigeria, with isolated populations in Chad and the Central African Republic.

Diet consists of fruit, and they are quite partial to figs, but they will also eat leaves, buds, flowers, insects, snails and slugs.

This species is locally common, but is vulnerable to trapping for the pet trade in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana.

Media related to Musophaga violacea at Wikimedia Commons Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1