oaks. It occupies areas of dense vegetation, including thickets. Preference for Portuguese oak woods.

Summer bird in the province, present only during the breeding period and in migratory passage, which allows to differentiate it from the Common Chiffchaff, which is wintering. The Western Bonelli's Warbler spends the winter south of the Sahara. It breeds from May. Nest on the ground. Two annual layings of 4 to 7 eggs. Insectivorous food.

In Malaga it usually appears in mountainous areas of medium and high altitude, always linked to forest stands. In the Great Path it can be watched in stages 11, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31 and 34.

The species was described in the 19th century by the Italian zoologist Franco Andrea Bonelli, professor at the University of Turin. Bonelli was also responsible for describing the Bonelli's Eagle, named for that reason after him.