A small migratory songbird breeding in low to mid-elevation, moist mixed forest and wintering in woodland and scrub, preferring thick undergrowth, especially dwarf bamboo. Brown, streaked upperparts, grayish head and pale yellow underparts with fine, dark streaking. Male has deeper coloration, stronger streaks, black face and chin. Similar to Yellow Bunting but has more streaking on underparts. Very skulking but presence often betrayed in winter by a high-pitch “chip!”. Song is a short, slow melody ending in a trill, “chip chew chiriririii”.