Adult Male:
The back is pale green, the flanks and upper tail coverts are deep red. The tail is dark green. The lesser and median coverts and tertials are green, while the greater coverts are dark green. Flight feathers are black on the inner web and green on the outer web, with increasing green towards the inner feathers. The underside of the tail and the underwing are blue. The belly is pale yellowish-green, with a pale blue streak on the throat.
Female:
Generally darker in color, lacking the blue streak on the throat.
Juvenile:
Similar to the female, with some green feathers interspersed on the flanks.
Eye:
Pale yellowish-white.
Beak:
Bright red, with a yellow tip.
Skin at the base of the beak:
Deep pink.
Legs:
Pale yellow or yellow-orange.
Measurements:
Wing: 83 – 97 mm; Tail: 36 – 38 mm; Tarsus: 9 – 10 mm; Bill: 10 – 11 mm.
Distribution:
The species is distributed in the Himalayas, Assam, Bengal, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indochina.
In Vietnam, the species occurs from Quảng Trị province southward, but is most abundant in the Central Highlands.