A plain, miniscule cisticola of dry habitats. The cap and back of the neck are bright rufous, the back and tail are gray-brown, and the underparts are pale buff. The back can appear unstreaked or blurrily streaked. Found in dry thorn savanna and woodland. Within its range and habitat, easily identified by its tiny size and the bright rufous on the head. The song may recall a prinia’s, consisting of a rapid series of high-pitched “chi-du-lee” phrases.