The greyish underparts, uniform brownish upperparts and chestnut cap render the southern form one of the easiest cisticolas to identofy. The northern form is similar to short-winged cisticola but has buffer underparts, a chestnut cap and a longer tail.
Juvenile is yellower than adult
Grassy understory of woodland, savanna and plantations.
Song a monotonous, frequently repeated 'weep' or 'beep'; alarm call a fast 'tictictictic'.