A plain coloured smallish bird of reedbeds. Size 14-16cm - This bird is smaller than a Cape Sparrow.  Afrikaans: Kaapse Rietsanger

The bill is slightly shorter than the length of the head, and is straight, with a slightly downcurved upper mandible. The Bill is blackish horn, with a yellowish base, the legs and feet are greenish or blueish horn. The eye is brown.

This species is a rich brown above, and whitish-buff below. The flanks are washed with a richer rufous colour. It has a distinctive white eyebrow.

This is a common species of reedbeds in standing water. It is usually seen singly, moving through the reeds, and clambering up and down reed stems.

It eats insects and small frogs.

The song is rich and melodious - a series of bubbly phrases that include trilling notes: tewip prr-titititit pr trr trooreee and a large number of variations, always with pauses in between phrases.

The Cape Reed Warbler nests mainly from August to December, with the earliest nesters being those in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape. The nest is a deep, firmly built cup of strips of reed-blades, grass and sedges, with a lining of finer grasses. It is always placed in reeds above water.