This species inhabits rocky wadis and hillsides with acacia and other bushes. It prefers dry habitats. While it generally avoids human-modified environments, it is sometimes found in gardens and cultivations (Jennings 2010). The species forms family groups of up to eight birds and keeps in close contact when moving through the territory (Jennings 2010). There is no information available on its diet in the UAE, but it is reported to feed on invertebrates and sometimes seeds elsewhere. It is able to survive in dry environments, where water sources are absent most of the year (Jennings 2010). The breeding behaviour in the UAE is not well known; in Arabia the breeding period differs between regions, with the peak activity between January and September (Jennings 2010).

The occurrence of the species within the UAE peaks in early spring, when individuals stop over during passage, while some individuals stay for the non-breeding season between November and April (Pedersen et al. 2017). There is no information available on this species within the country. The following information refer to its general habitat and ecology and likely also apply to the population in the UAE: During passage and on the wintering grounds, the species occupies tamarisk and acacia woodland, scrubs and palm groves (Aspinall and Porter 2011, Porter et al. 2019). The presence of fruiting trees, e.g. date palms and Salvadora persica trees, and drinking water is essential for the species (Porter et al. 2019). It mainly feeds on Salvadora persica berries and locally on dates, but during winter also takes flying invertebrates (Porter et al. 2019).

The main habitat of this species are wadis and acacia scrub (Jennings 2010). It is also frequently found in well-vegetated parks, gardens and palm groves (Aspinall and Porter 2011). It feeds mostly on fruit, as well as on seeds and invertebrates and less frequently on nectar, leaves and flowers (Fishpool and Tobias 2005, Jennings 2010). Occasionally, it takes human food scraps and visits bird tables (Jennings 2010). Pairs establish a permanent bond. The breeding season can last from January to September, but peaks between March and April. There are hints that the species is double-brooded, but confirmation is still lacking (Jennings 2010). Clutches usually consist of less than three eggs, although occasionally four or five have been observed (Jennings 2010). The nest is a cup or small basket of thin twigs, grass stems, moss and leaves with the base constructed of broad leaves (sometimes with newspaper, strips of plastic or cotton wool) and the structure is held together by cobwebs and cotton threads, lined after a fashion with hair, shredded bark and rootlets, apparently sometimes unlined (Fishpool and Tobias 2005, Jennings 2010). It is placed in a bush or tree at least 2 m above ground (Jennings 2010).

This species prefers open country such as cultivated farmland with buildings and settlements, large gardens and moist areas (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). During migration, it occupies almost any area and habitat type (Aspinall and Porter 2011). The species is gregarious. Generally, it feeds almost entirely on flying insects (Snow and Perrins 1998). While it has been suggested that the species has occasionally bred in Ras al-Khaimah, there is no clear evidence of a breeding population in the UAE (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010).

This species occurs in hilly country with rocks, gorges and ravines, caves and cliffs (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is habituated to human presence and regularly occurs in towns and cities, where concrete and high-rise buildings offer attractive nesting sites (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). The species favours arid environments and avoids forested and humid areas (Jennings 2010). It occurs in pairs during the breeding season, but forms small flocks of up to 30 individuals during winter; these flocks range far away from the breeding areas and are regularly found over wetlands with high food availability (Jennings 2010). It feeds almost exclusively on flying insects (Jennings 2010). The breeding season is highly synchronized among years and regions and always peaks between February and April, when two to four eggs are laid (Jennings 2010). Nests are cups constructed of mud, which is collected from damp soils or puddles, and are lined with feathers, grass, hair, sheep's wool and thin plant downs (Jennings 2010). They are attached to vertical surfaces, e.g. in rock crevices and caves, under rock protrusions, but are increasingly placed on man-made structures like concrete buildings (Jennings 2010). Nests can be re-used in consecutive years (Jennings 2010).

During the non-breeding season, this species occupies a wide variety of habitats, including heavily modified areas like cultivations, garbage dumps, urban gardens, villages and palm groves (Jennings 2010). The breeding population near Hamraniyah (Ras al-Khaimah) inhabited irrigated fodder fields in close proximity to farm buildings and old Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria) trees (Jennings 2010). The species roosts in large flocks, partly together with other species, in large trees close to human settlements (Jennings 2010). It feeds in flocks on the ground. It is omnivorous, taking plant material (grains, grass, fruits and berries) as well as animals (invertebrates and small lizards), but also feeds on food waste and visits bird tables (Snow and Perrins 1998, Jennings 2010). Breeding occurs mostly between March and June. There is no information available on nests or nest sites in the UAE; elsewhere the nest is a bulky structure of dry grasses and leaves, lined with softer materials such as feathers, hair and fibres. It is typically built in a hole in a tree or building. Clutches are normally four to six eggs (Craig and Feare 2015).

This species occurs in arid open, sparsely vegetated country, including barren or grassy areas, semi-desert and steppe, but also in cultivations and parkland (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is rarely found in very arid environments (Richardson 1990). The species is mainly insectivorous and mostly takes ants, but occasionally feeds on seeds (Jennings 2010). The species is migratory (Collar 2015).

This species occurs in a variety of flat, open habitats, including scrubby desert and semi-desert, grassland, barren stony areas, scrubby saltflats, coastal dunes and cultivations (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It avoids densely vegetated and wooded areas, rocky areas and urban developments (Jennings 2010). It feeds on invertebrates and seeds, and is able to tolerate arid environments where no drinking water is available (Jennings 2010, Collar 2016). The species is migratory and breeds in late spring and early summer in southern central Asia.

This species occupies arid, rocky mountain slopes and barren or sparsely vegetated hillsides (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Populations confined to mountain tops may undergo altitudinal movements, migrating to lower elevations during winter (Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017). It forages on the ground (Jennings 2010). Not much information is available on its diet in the UAE, but it likely feeds mainly on invertebrates, but also on berries and other plant matter (Jennings 2010). While the species often seeks shaded areas in summer, it may survive long periods without drinking water, depending solely on the moisture in its food (Jennings 2010). It tolerates the proximity of humans (Jennings 2010). Being solitary outside of the breeding season, pairs form in November, and chicks hatch between February in lower elevations and June higher up the mountains (Jennings 2010). There is not much known about the nests in the UAE; elsewhere it consists of a cup made from plants stems and leaves, lined with grass and feathers, and is placed in rocky cervices (Jennings 2010, Collar 2019). Clutch size in the UAE might be lower than the four to five eggs found elsewhere (Jennings 2010). Shortly after fledging, juveniles disperse to lower elevations (Jennings 2010).

This species is confined to remote arid, rocky areas on mountain slopes, inaccessible scree cliffs, wadis and gorges (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is adapted to this environments by having an agile, buoyant flight and the ability to fly vertically along cliffs (Jennings 2010). During winter, is occurs in a broader range of habitats, including less inclined hills and rocks (Jennings 2010). It mostly avoids proximity to human dwellings; yet the inaccessibility of its habitat means that the risk of human encroachment is very low (Jennings 2010). There is not much information available on its diet and breeding behaviour in the UAE. Elsewhere, it feeds almost exclusively on flying insects. The breeding season may last from early spring to early summer; juveniles hatch from April on. Nests may be constructed of straw and weeds and placed deep into a crevice (Jennings 2010).