A rather plain brown warbler whose lack of bold markings is itself helpful for identification. It shows a faint pale eye-ring, a soft grey patch on the side of the neck, and a relatively short, stubby bill for a warbler. It occurs in many kinds of wooded and shrubby habitats, where its slow, unobtrusive behaviour often causes it to be overlooked. The song is a pleasant, rich warble reminiscent of a Blackcap, but usually steadier and less forceful. Its calls are dry “chek-chek” notes, often repeated in a series, much like those of a Blackcap.