This species occurs along the coast, where it frequents sandy beaches, mudflats and tidal pools and creeks (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; generally, during the non-breeding season the species takes insects, crustaceans (such as crabs and amphipods), molluscs (particularly bivalves) and polychaete worms (del Hoyo et al. 1996). This species is fully migratory (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Birds wintering in the UAE breed in central Siberia, where flocks form in early July and depart for the winter quarters in early-August to early-September (adults leaving first), to arrive in India, south Arabia and East Africa in early-August to mid-September (del Hoyo et al. 1996). During the non-breeding season, the species may occur singly or in flocks of up to 100 individuals or more, often in mixed flocks with Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii (Johnsgard 1981, Urban et al. 1986, Richardson 1990).