This species is often associated with man, living around buildings from isolated farms to villages and urban centres, though it also colonizes isolated areas far away from human population. It has been expanding its range in Arabia by using human developments like villages, farms, plantations or even petrol stops as dispersal corridors (Jennings 2010). The availability of water is crucial for the species (Jennings 2010). The diet is mainly vegetable material, particularly seeds of grasses and green shoots, cultivated cereals and low herbs, but also fruits, such as dates and berries, and wide range of household scraps (Summers-Smith et al. 2015). It also feeds on invertebrates, such as moths, caterpillars and ants (Jennings 2010). It forages mainly on the ground or in low vegetation. It shows a wide variety of foraging techniques, from hovering flights to pick items from leaves, to running and hopping or aerial pursuits in search for insect prey (Jennings 2010). It nests colonially, sometimes together with other species (e.g. Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis, although P. hispaniolensis is now possibly extinct as a breeding species within the UAE). Nests are constructed mainly of plant stems, lined with feathers or other soft material. They can be placed almost anywhere, e.g. in a hole in a building, in a cliff or in a tree (Jennings 2010, Summers-Smith et al. 2015). While breeding has been observed year-round, the main period lasts from May to June (Jennings 2010).