A migrant (spring: March – April, autumn: August – September) and breeder for Cyprus, mainly passing migrant for the Akamas, possibly few individuals breed locally and occasionally. During migration it can be seen in many different habitats, mainly with plenty of cover, while it breeds in forested, humid valleys, usually close to streams.

It generally remains well hidden in densely covered sites, it can be hardly observed because it doesn’t come easily out in the open. It is mostly heard, calling or singing. It’s one of the best singers of the bird world, that’s why its name is connected since the ancient times with calliphony and lyricism. It sings loudly, nonstop, even during the night at the breeding sites.

Its song consists of a series of alternating whistles, rattles, chirps etc., punctuated by a very short pause between them. It has about 20 different “music themes” in its song, which repeat, in a different order, showing an amazing ability to improvise. It’s slightly bigger than a Robin, with a more elongated body, brown upperparts with reddish-brown tail, grayish-beige underparts with a little gray around the brown cheek.