Small sandy-brown Old World warbler with a fairly long, broad, rounded tail, and long crisp streaking above and below. Lack of wingbars emphasizes plain, streaky appearance. Adult: Brown auriculars. Inconspicuous thin buffy-whitish supercilium. Streaky brownish crown. Long thin dark bill with very pale pink lower mandible. Pale whitish throat and underparts with brownish flanks and thin, crisp, dark streaks across breast and down the flanks. Streaky brownish back, rump and wings. Dark tail. Pink legs. Juvenile: Similar to adult. Overall pattern suggestive of a Savannah Sparrow, but note longer, broad tail with a wide rounded tip and the longer and thinner warbler bill.

Length: 11 (cm) Wingspan: 18 (cm)

Habitat:

Open areas with dense cover, usually near water. Damp meadows or bogs with thick reeds and grasses.

Behavior:

Almost always on the ground. Occasionally perches in the open on a tall stalk of grass or low stick usually just to sing or quickly look around. Walks and scampers around on ground in search of food. Sometimes very difficult to see. Often flicks wings.

Feeding:

Diet consists of insects, spiders and insect larvae.