Small, very plain cisticola of uplands. Note the rufous cap. The underparts are gray in southern South Africa and buffy throughout the rest of the range. Found in open woodland, scrub, plantations, and fynbos. Song is a repeated, high-pitched peep. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification. Similar to Short-winged Cisticola, but Piping shows rufous on the cap.