This species inhabits densely vegetated, damp areas, such as irrigation ditches, reed beds, sewage farms, cultivated areas and date groves, farmland, but also gardens and parks (Jennings 2010). It generally avoids dry environments (Jennings 2010). It forages by hopping through the vegetation and picking items from leaves, taking a variety of insects (Jennings 2010). The species is generally sedentary and very reluctant to fly (Jennings 2010). Males are territorial throughout the year (Jennings 2010). The breeding period lasts from February to June, and clutches contain three to four eggs (Jennings 2010). The male constructs the nest and the female assists by lining the cup. It is an oval structure made of dry grass and other plant material, spider cocoons and spider web and hidden low above the ground in dense vegetation, like fairly tall grass or bushes. Nest construction may exceptionally take up to seven weeks in the UAE (Jennings 2010).