It is found on the southeastern slope of the Sarawat Mountains of Yemen and Saudi Arabia, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.

The Yemen warbler was first described in 1913, by the Scottish ornithologist William Robert Ogilvie-Grant, as Parisoma buryi in the babbler family Timaliidae.

However, examination of its mitochondrial DNA, vocalizations, behaviour and form led to it being transferred to the genus Curruca in the family Sylviidae.

It feeds largely on insects including caterpillars, but also takes fruit and sips nectar.

Breeding takes place between March and July, and the male and female stay together for much of the year.