The Danphe has a heavy body and a short tail. It is therefore not fit for flying, but it can glide. When alarmed it leaps screaming into the air and downwards on its wings careens. The male Danphe has a metallic green colored head and its eyes are circled with a blue band. Its back is purplish black with a distinctive white patch on the rump.
Wings are blue-black in color with a touch of yellow on the top.
Around the neck is a deep reddish band. The breast is dark brown to velvety black and the tail is of light tan color. On the head is a crest of metallic green feathers with spoon-shaped tips. The whole colorful appearance enables the bird to get attraction from its mate. Looked at from a distance, the fine colors of the male Danphe get blurred and only the tan colord tail and the white rump become noticeable.