[2] This small passerine bird is a short-distance migrant, and winters in Israel, Jordan and Egypt.

The adult male is a small typical warbler with a grey back, black head, white malar streaks ("moustaches"), and, uniquely among typical warblers, underparts heavily streaked with black.

The female is mainly grey above, with a greyer head, and whitish with only light spotting.

Together with Rüppell's warbler it forms a superspecies with dark throats, white malar streaks and light remigial fringes.

(The Sylvia Monograph, A & C Black, London; Jønsson & Fjeldså 2006) This is a bird of dry open country, often on hill slopes, with bushes for nesting.