The Cinnamon-breasted Warbler Euryptila subcinnamomea (A. Smith, 1847) is an uncommon endemic of low scrub growing among rocks on the plateau of the South West Arid Zone of the Afrotropics, extending from central Namibia, south to the Karoo regions of the Cape Province. It is closely allied - perhaps even congeneric - to species of small barred bush warblers now grouped in the genus Calamonastes Sharpe, 1883, but in contrast with its three component species (C. simplex, C. stierlingi and C. fasciolatus) is currently believed to show no taxonomically significant variation. Study of the available material of E. subcinnamomea in southern African collections reveals that it is not monotypic, varying as it does in colouration in association with rainfall levels, and two subspecies require to be now recognised. For one of the subspecies a name is introduced herein. Keywords: Aves, Euryptila, subspecific variation, climate.