A small, round, wren-like warbler that thrives in the undergrowth, often leaning forward and raising its short, slender tail. The bird is about 11.5 cm long and has red eyes, olive-green wings and grey-white underparts. Pairs inhabit scrub and riverine forest in dry and moist savannas, forests and forest edges. It adapts well to gardens and parks. It hops about, often close to the ground, searching for small insects, beetles, flies and ants. Its two common calls are a nasal "meehrrp" alarm call, which gives it the nickname "croaking warbler", and a sharp, repeated clicking "strik-strik-strik-strik-strik-strik". The bird is found in a wide belt from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east and south to Namibia and South Africa.