This species is closely associated with water, both coastal and inland, preferring islands and remote coasts in proximity to shallow water and reefs (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It forages close to the shore over shallow water. Its diet include a wide variety of fish between 5 and 75 cm long, which is taken in the talons after a shallow dive and carried to a feeding perch or the nest (Jennings 2010). The migrant population breeds in Eurasia and spends the non-breeding season in the UAE or passes through the country on migration to and from the non-breeding grounds in tropical Africa (Jennings 2010). Generally, migrants and non-breeding birds occur further inland, avoiding the coastal zones occupied by resident birds (Kjellén et al. 1997). Birds are generally solitary and usually migrate alone, but may congregate in small groups at roosts or plentiful food sources (del Hoyo et al. 1994, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). The species migrates on broad fronts and is not dependent on land bridges during migration (Snow and Perrins 1998, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001); birds readily cross bodies of water using flapping flight, but can soar easily over land. It is entirely diurnal (Brown et al. 1982). The species is monogamous and defends a territory (Jennings 2010). The breeding season lasts from November to April or May (Jennings 2010). The species nests preferably on islands and only rarely on the mainland, in areas which are free from mammal predators and human disturbance (Jennings 2010). Nests are made from halophyte woody vegetation, sticks and litter, and may be over 2 m in height and 1.5 m in diameter. They are mostly placed on the ground, often on prominent headlands, coral pinnacles and ridges, or in halophyte bushes and mangroves. Occasionally, the species uses man-made structures like abandoned buildings and vehicles, shipwrecks, harbour buoys, pylons, floodlight towers, artificial nesting platforms or even oil installations (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Clutches contain two to four eggs (Jennings 2010). After fledging, females disperse from the nest site (Jennings 2010).

This species is very rarely observed in coastal waters (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). At sea, it is often associated with patches of macroalgae (e.g. Sargassum spp.) or flotsam which it uses for perching (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Haney et al. 1999, Jennings 2010). Its diet consists predominantly of squid and surface-schooling fish less than 6 cm long as well as crustaceans and occasionally aquatic insects or molluscs (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Higgins and Davies 1996, Jennings 2010). During the breeding season from April to July, the species forms colonies on rocky or sandy islands and on the mainland coast, where enough low vegetation is present (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). When nesting, the species often associates with nesting White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa or Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis (Jennings 2010). One single egg is laid directly on the ground, in a small scrape or depression in shingle or sand (Higgins and Davies 1996, Jennings 2010). Nests are placed in concealed locations and always in the shade, like under a bush, in a rock crevice or on a ledge (Jennings 2010). The species is migratory and dispersive; it abandons its breeding site at the end of the breeding season to overwinter at sea (Higgins and Davies 1996, Haney et al. 1999). Its detailed migratory movements are largely unknown however (del Hoyo et al. 1996), but it is assumed that the Arabian population winters in the Indian Ocean east of Africa (Jennings 2010). Away from the breeding grounds, the species is entirely pelagic (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Haney et al. 1999).

This species inhabits coastal and inshore waters; occasionally, individuals have been observed inland over brackish water and sewage treatment plants close to the coast (Jennings 2010). It forages in shallow water over reefs, in the surf, in harbours and near jetties (Jennings 2010). It feeds by surface-dipping and plunge-diving, taking small fish like anchovies, sardines and mackerel, as well as invertebrates (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Jennings 2010). It nests colonially on sandy islands or on sandy or even stony patches on well-vegetated islands (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Breeding colonies are often associated with other tern species (Jennings 2010). The breeding season starts immediately upon arrival to the breeding colony, with eggs being recorded between April and August (Jennings 2010). The nest is a shallow scrape on soft sand, compact sand, shingle or stony surface or on a seaweed carpet, which may be lined with shells, fish bones, corals, pebbles or plant material (Jennings 2010). Usually, clutches contain two eggs (Jennings 2010). The species is migratory. After breeding, the colony is abandoned. The movements of this species are not well known; however it is assumed that the species disperses widely in the Indian Ocean, wintering between the coast of Kenya, the west coast of India and the Laccadive and Maldive islands (Jennings 2010).

This species occurs over shallow coastal water, often close to the mainland or coastal islands (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). In Arabia it was observed feeding on small fish (Jennings 2010); elsewhere it also takes crustaceans, molluscs and insects (del Hoyo et al. 1996). It nests on the mainland up to 1.5 km inland, mostly on beaches or open sites just above the high tide mark that allow an early detection of ground predators (Jennings 2010). While some pairs nest singly, the majority forms small loose colonies of up to 20 pairs, which are less conspicuous to predators than large ones (Jennings 2010). The breeding season lasts from late March to mid-June or July, with the majority of chicks hatching in May (Jennings 2010). The nest is flat or a slight hollow on bare sand, shingle or dried mud (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Snow and Perrins 1998, Jennings 2010). Clutches contain mostly two eggs, and only rarely one or three eggs (Jennings 2010). Outside of the breeding season, large flocks of up to 1,000 individuals gather on the Arabian Gulf (Jennings 2010). The movements of this species in winter are not well known, but individuals may disperse out to the northern Indian Ocean (Jennings 2010).

This species is found along the coast and in inland wetlands (Aspinall and Porter 2011). It winters on sheltered coastal waters, estuaries and along large rivers, occupying harbours, jetties, piers, beaches and coastal wetlands including lagoons, rivers, lakes, swamps and saltworks, mangroves and saltmarshes (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Higgins and Davies 1996). During this season, it roosts on unvegetated sandy beaches, shores of estuaries or lagoons, sandbars and rocky shores (Higgins and Davies 1996). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere the species is opportunistic, its diet consisting predominantly of small fish and occasionally planktonic crustaceans and insects (del Hoyo et al. 1996). It forages in flocks over freshwater as well as marine habitats, and often follows predatory fish, waiting for panicking baitfish to surface. It is gregarious throughout the year (Snow and Perrins 1998). The species is strongly migratory (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Snow and Perrins 1998). It breeds between April and June in solitary pairs or colonially in groups (of up to several thousand pairs in central Asia) (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Individuals migrate south after breeding between August and October, returning to the breeding grounds in March or April (del Hoyo et al. 1996).

This species occurs along the coast. It inhabits remote sandy or rocky beaches and mudflats, but is also found at coastal freshwater sites like shallow pools and creeks (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It forages over shallow inshore water or up to 300 m offshore (Jennings 2010). There is not much known about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere it consists predominantly of surface-dwelling marine fish as well as small shrimps, marine worms and squid, which it takes by plunge-diving or from the water surface (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Snow and Perrins 1998, Jennings 2010). The species is also known to prey on shorebird chicks (Jennings 2010). The species is migratory; the main migration period lasts from October to November and from March to April (Jennings 2010). Individuals wintering in or passing through the UAE breed along the shores of the Caspian and Black seas.

This species occurs on the open sea up to 50 km off the coast, and only comes to offshore islands or to the mainland for resting on sandy beaches (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It forages in small groups by plunge-diving or surface-dipping (Jennings 2010). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere, it feeds predominantly on small pelagic fish, but it will opportunistically take cephalopods, crustaceans, insects and hatchling turtles (Urban et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Higgins and Davies 1996). The species also preys on chicks of White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa and Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis (Jennings 2010). The species breeds in spring to early summer; in the UAE, eggs have been recorded between May and June (Jennings 2010). It breeds on offshore islands in large dense colonies of up to 1,000 pairs, often associated with Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis and other tern species (Jennings 2010). The colonies are located on open, sandy areas (Jennings 2010). On Qarnayn;Island, the nesting habitat is in the soft sandy areas on the northwestern part of the island. A single egg is laid on the bare sand; only during incubation and nestling stage, a shallow scrape develops (Jennings 2010). Juveniles leave the nests a few days after hatching and form crèches along the shoreline (Jennings 2010). After the breeding season, individuals breeding off the UAE coast migrate south as far as the coast of Kenya, while birds from the northern Arabian Gulf may winter in the UAE (Jennings 2010).

This species inhabits coastal waters (Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is gregarious throughout the year, foraging in single- or mixed-species flocks up to 400 individuals (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Snow and Perrins 1998). It forages in the surf and offshore waters by plunge-diving or surface-dipping (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Snow and Perrins 1998, Jennings 2010). Its diet consists predominantly of small pelagic fish, but it may also take crustaceans such as prawns and shrimps (Urban et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Jennings 2010). During the breeding season, it establishes large, densely packed colonies on sandy patches on islands up to 200 m from the coast (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Colony locations are often protected by low vegetation and shrubs from predators, e.g. introduced cats and dogs, mice or Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii (Jennings 2010). The breeding season lasts from early May to July (Jennings 2010). The nest is a shallow scrape in the sand, which may gradually get deeper during incubation (Jennings 2010). Clutches contain one egg (Jennings 2010). After the breeding season, the species disperses out into the Indian Ocean; the details of its movement are poorly known (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Jennings 2010).

This species is mainly coastal, occurring over shallow waters up to 100 m from the shore (Jennings 2010). It frequents open coasts, sheltered lagoons, inshore islands and occasionally inland wetlands (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It feeds on fish, which it captures by plunge-diving (Jennings 2010). Elsewhere, it also takes eggs and young of other birds, carrion, aquatic invertebrates, flying insects and earthworms (Flint;et al.;1984, Urban;et al.;1986, del Hoyo;et al.;1996, Shuford and Craig 2002). It is not a highly gregarious species outside of the breeding season, but may aggregate into flocks on passage, and during the winter it may feed in loose congregations;in rich fishing areas or at nightly roost sites (Urban;et al. 1986, del Hoyo;et al.;1996, Snow and Perrins 1998). The species nests either in colonies or as single pairs on flat islands with sparse vegetation, on sandy or shingle beaches, on sand dunes, flat rock surfaces or sheltered reefs (Flint;et al.;1984, Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo;et al.;1996, Snow and Perrins 1998, Jennings 2010). The species is believed to double-brood in the Arabian Gulf; eggs have been recorded between April and July and between September and January (Jennings 2010). The nest is a shallow depression scraped in sandy ground (Jennings 2010). Clutches contain one egg, rarely two (Jennings 2010).

During the non-breeding season, this species is almost entirely coastal, frequenting shallow inshore waters and mudflats further inland (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It forages in shallow water close to the shore and on sandy beaches, but also inland in flooded saltflats (Jennings 2010). It mainly feeds on small fish and marine invertebrates, which it takes by plunge-diving, surface-dipping or by wading in shallow pools (Jennings 2010). Individuals may oversummer in the UAE; however, they do not breed there. Instead, migratory populations breed in central Asia (Jennings 2010)