A small, dumpy pipit lacking a distinct eyebrow. The lack of wingbars and the diffuse streaks on the breast that do not reach the flanks are further distinguishing features. Pairs are furtive in open and lightly wooded savanna with bare patches, particularly where it is grassy or rocky. The scratchy, buzzy vocalizations can only be confused with those of Short-tailed Pipit, which differs from Bush Pipit by having a shorter tail and bill, and by being more heavily streaked on both upperparts and underparts, with streaking reaching the flanks. The Short-tailed Pipit also prefers different habitat: lush grassland in hilly areas and coastal plains.