The Russet Bush-warbler is a small bird of mountain scrub and semi-open ground. A 2015 study revised the Locustella mandelli complex and separated the central Chinese population as Sichuan Bush Warbler. The appearance and range here follow the populations retained as L. mandelli in that study.
The study's description of L. mandelli gives pale brown upperparts, a pale eyebrow and dark lores. Plumage differences in the complex can be subtle, so the central Chinese Sichuan Bush Warbler is not used to characterize this species.
The species account places it in scrub and semi-open habitats and records a diet of invertebrates. Its cryptic appearance and song can make bush warblers hard to find, but this summary uses only the habitat and feeding details assigned to L. mandelli.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.