Medium-sized brown warbler, very similar to Eurasian Reed-Warbler. Best differentiated by the song, which is delightful, distinctive, loud, and full of mimicry of European and African birds. The call is a nasal, short "chek" or "tret." Longer wings than Eurasian Reed-Warbler, with distinctive pale tips to wing feathers. Bill rather short; legs pale and less warm-toned than Eurasian Reed-Warbler. Breeds in thick herbaceous vegetation in marshy areas and along ditches, not usually in the middle of wet reed beds. Can be found in drier habitats during the non-breeding season.