Medium-sized bush warbler. Brown with a white throat, pale buffy brow, and rufous crown. Gray-sided Bush Warbler is similar but smaller, with a whiter brow stripe and paler, more gray-toned sides. Chestnut-crowned can be separated from other bush warblers by a combination of its size, bright rufous crown, and strong head pattern. Breeds in foothill and montane areas up to the treeline; prefers dense shrubby areas, particularly with an abundance of rhododendrons. In the winter, descends into lower foothill and lowland areas with scrubby edge growth. Song is a sharp, high “tih-wih-wih-wihr.” Calls include a sharp, bunting-like “tseep.”