This species occurs in freshwater wetlands like creeks, pond edges, wet grassland and sewage treatment plants, but also in saline habitats like coastal lagoons and mudflats (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere on passage and during winter, it takes insects, small crustaceans, spiders, molluscs, annelid worms, frogs, small fish and plant material (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species is migratory. It breeds from May to August in northern Eurasia, particularly in tundra habitats from the coast to the Arctic treeline (Johnsgard et al. 1981, Hayman et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species leaves the breeding grounds between late-June and August and returns from the wintering grounds from March to mid-May (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species migrates in large flocks of hundreds or thousands of individuals and forms huge dense groups on its wintering grounds (Hayman et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996).