sˈʌbspiːsˌiːz hˈɛlɪˌoʊz ɪz lˈɑːɹdʒɚ ðɐn splˈɛndɪdˌɪsɪmə, mˈeɪl hɐz ɐ mˈoːɹ blˈuː ðɐn jˈɛloʊɡɹˈiːn kɹˈaʊn, ænd lˈɑːɹdʒɚ spˈætʃʊlˌeɪt tˈɪps ɔnðə lˈɔŋɡɚ tˈuː sˈɛntɹəl fˈɛðɚz, ænd fˈiːmeɪl hɐz dˈɑːɹkɚɹ ˈʌpɚpˌɑːɹts.
Subspecies helios is larger than splendidissima, male has a more blue than yellow-green crown, and larger spatulate tips on the longer two central feathers, and female has darker upperparts.