Small, pale gray-buff Curruca warbler. Often cocks its contrastingly dark tail while feeding on the ground. Males have a blackish hood (unlike bolder black hood of the similar Sardinian Warbler), gradually merging into paler neck and mantle. In all plumages wings very plain. Females and young have cold-toned underparts, lacking warmer flanks of Sardinian Warbler. Breeds in tamarisk scrub, vegetated desert, and semi-desert wadis. Winters in arid zones, desert wadis, and plains. Song a short scratchy whistle about 2-3 seconds long with longer pauses. Call a low "trrrrrr."