A resident bird of Cyprus and the Akamas. It is found and breeds mainly in wooded areas and along streams and valleys with plenty of vegetation and moisture.

It moves in dense vegetation, keeping closer to the ground, looking for food (mainly insects), reminding somewhat a rodent’s behavior. It is a quite cryptic species, but it also comes out in more exposed places every now and then, especially when it sings. Its song is impressively loud and quite distinctive and can be heard at a quite big distance.

It’s a tiny bird, one of the smallest in size of Cyprus, very characteristic in appearance and behavior, with its compact body and short tail, which is often raised upwards. It is dark reddish-brown above, lighter brown below, with fine dark stripes on the body and tail.