Throughout the year, this species occupies open country such as well-watered meadows, grass patches on roadsides, damp areas near rivers and sewage lagoons, but also woodland, olive and palm groves, parks and gardens, or oases (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It requires the presence of features offering perches, drinking water, shade, nest-sites and accessible food. The species can tolerate hot, arid conditions, but only for short periods during migration (Jennings 2010). It feeds almost entirely on animal matter, primarily large insects and their larvae and pupae (Snow and Perrins 1998, Jennings 2010). While the species has no serious competitor for food resources, it may have to compete for nest sites with exotic species like mynas Acridotheres spp. or Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris (Jennings 2010). The species is monogamous, solitary and a territorial breeder. It breeds between January and August; nestlings have been reported in the UAE in February (Jennings 2010). It nests in natural holes in stumps, trees, walls, old buildings, cliffs, among boulders, in abandoned vehicles, drain pipes, wells, roof spaces and nest boxes, and occasionally in places like a lawn sprinkler cavity, a roll of carpet and a fountain, and may use the same site for several seasons (Jennings 2010, KriÅ¡tín;and Kirwan 2015). The nest may be unlined or lined with some debris from the crevice (Snow and Perrins 1998, Jennings 2010). In Arabia, clutches contain five to seven eggs (Jennings 2010).