An odd-looking babbler which looks and behaves like a prinia on steroids. Brown above and white below with rufous wingtips. Red eyering is unique. Scrambles about in reedbeds, scrub, field edges, and grassy meadows in small flocks and pairs. Scales stems like a parrotbill and hangs acrobatically like a tit or leaf warbler. Strident, melodic song has a somewhat hoarse, nasal quality. Calls include repeated descending whistles, energetic chattering, and dry chittering.