A strikingly colorful bird if seen in good light, it is rather common in temperate forests of the three Andean ranges in Colombia (2200 – 3850m) and in north-western Venezuela, Ecuador and Perú.

As other species in the genus Eriocnemis, it is territorial and pugnacious, and raises the wings briefly upon landing. This bird can be seen in Chingaza National Park near Bogotá and occasionally at the hummingbird feeders of the Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve (ProAves) above Jardín.