This species is especially common on desert plains, but is generally found in a wide variety of flat habitats, including sandy and gravel desert, semi-desert and coastal dunes (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Even though it is a shy species, it is frequently found in proximity to humans, e.g. in the outskirts of towns, in farmland and along the beach (Jennings 2010). The species is able to tolerate the hot and arid conditions of the sandy desert, and shows a variety of behavioural adaptations to combat the extreme heat, like standing in the shade, hiding in the holes of Spiny-tailed Lizards Uromastyx microlepis, or lying on shaded, damp ground (Jennings 2010). It feeds on invertebrates, which it obtains by digging in soft soil, chasing and aerial pursuits, or by searching in rock crevices. Occasionally, it takes small invertebrates like lizards (Jennings 2010). The species is territorial throughout the year. The breeding season lasts from February to July or even October, depending on the amount of rainfall (de Juana and Suárez 2019). The courtship display of the males include frequent calls with rising and falling notes, which consist of trilled whistles and clicks (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). Males also perform distraction displays when the nest or chicks are threatened (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). The nest consists of a cup dug into the ground, often in open conditions and exposed to the sun. Nests observed in the Dubai desert were located in bushes of Zygophyllum hamiense and made of soft twigs and lined with fine grass and feathers (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). Clutches contain two eggs; both sexes take turns in incubating and rearing the young (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019)

This species occurs on arid hills and along sparsely vegetated stony or rocky slopes (Jennings 2010). It avoids flat and sandy landscapes. The species can survive long periods without drinking water and shows several behavioural and morphological adaptations to hot and arid conditions: It is most active around sunrise and sunset, it moves slowly, avoids long flights and pants in hot weather. Moreover, its plumage has wide bar gaps between feathers (Jennings 2010). The species feeds on seeds and invertebrates, which it takes by systematically searching rocks and vegetation. Occasionally, it visits human habitations where it picks up discarded food (Jennings 2010). The highest breeding activity in Arabia has been recorded in March (Jennings 2010). The nest is made from grass stems and other fine plant material, lined with softer material and with a rampart of small stones on the exposed side, or surrounded by small stones when in an open site. It is always placed on the ground in the shade of a rock or plant (Jennings 2010). Clutches mostly contain three eggs (Jennings 2010).

This species is found in arid open desert plains with scattered vegetation and gravelly, sandy or stony rises (Aspinall and Porter 2011). It avoids proximity to humans (Jennings 2010). There is no information available on its diet in Arabia, but it is assumed that the species mainly feeds on seeds, which it collects in small groups on the ground (Jennings 2010). For thermoregulation, it retreats to shady areas beside rocks or trackside debris like discarded tyres, and regularly visits the holes of Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx microlepis during the hottest times of the day (Jennings 2010). The breeding period likely lasts from March to June (Jennings 2010). The nest consists of a cup made from twigs and grasses, lined with finer grasses, plant downs and feathers, which is dug into the ground. It is protected by a small wall made from pebbles. Nests are placed on the northern or north-eastern side of rocks or plants in order to grant shade to the incubating birds, eggs and nestlings (Jennings 2010).

This species occurs in a wide range of habitats, preferring semi-desert and sandy or stony plains with low scrub and grass vegetation (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is also frequently found along the edge of cultivations, along roadsides, on salt flats and on coastal dunes (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It feeds on the ground or in small bushes, taking mainly seeds, insects and caterpillars (Jennings 2010). During the hottest time of the day, it retreats to shaded areas where it often prostrates on the ground or in holes of Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx microlepis (Jennings 2010). The breeding period is usually in spring, but breeding may occur year-round, depending on environmental conditions like temperature, humidity and rainfall (Jennings 2010). The nest is a small cup dug in the ground, which is lined with grass or soft stems and leaves. It is placed at the base of vegetation, preferably Anabasis articulata, and positioned to avoid the afternoon sun (Jennings 2010). Clutches contain two to four eggs (Jennings 2010). Outside of the breeding season, the species is nomadic, forming large flocks to move inland away from the breeding grounds (Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017).

This species inhabits sparsely wooded areas and broken country, like woodland, areas of scattered trees, riparian forests, thorn scrubs and thickets, cuttings, parks and gardens (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere it feeds mainly on small arthropods, especially insects and their larvae and eggs, but also takes various berries, fruits and seeds (Aymí and Gargallo 2015). The species is migratory; it breeds in south-western Eurasia and winters from north-east Africa to Arabia and southern Iran (Snow and Perrins 1998).

This species prefers dry acacia and other scrub habitat, particularly wooded savanna, but also occurs in plantations, urban areas, gardens, shelter belts and around farmland, given that sufficient bushy cover is provided (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011, S. Alam in litt. 2019). It generally avoids open desert and rocky areas, forests and urban areas (Jennings 2010). It forages in groups mainly on the ground, searching under stones or scratching and digging with the bill, but also gleans bushes and trees (Jennings 2010). Its diet consists of ground-dwelling invertebrates and vegetable matter or dates (Jennings 2010). The species is group-living. The breeding season typically lasts from March to July, but may be advanced when food availability is high (Jennings 2010). Nests are bulky cups made of grass and twigs, lined with hair, grass and rootlets, and placed in acacia or other trees and bushes. Clutch size is unknown for the UAE, but elsewhere in Arabia they consist of one to six eggs (Jennings 2010).

Along the coast, this species occurs in stands of mangrove, mainly Grey Mangrove Avicennia marina, favouring low, thick stands over tall, open trees (Jennings 2010). Further inland and at freshwater sites near the coast, the species is found in Phragmites reed beds (Jennings 2010). During winter, the species ranges into a wider variety of habitats, including scrub, woodland and date gardens (Aspinall and Porter 2011). The species is secretive, reluctant to fly and generally keeps under vegetation cover (Jennings 2010). It feeds mainly on insects and was once observed killing a gecko (Jennings 2010). In mangrove habitat, it forages on exposed mud near the base of trees and gleans foliage; in reed beds it picks prey from or near the water surface (Jennings 2010). The breeding period lasts from March to early July, when up to three eggs are laid. Nests can be constructed from grass and twigs and woven to branches (Jennings 2010). It has been suggested that the species is double-brooded, but this has not been conclusively proven yet (Jennings 2010).

This species breeds in thick beds of reed (Phragmites particularly P. australis) on damp soil near water (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It also prefers this habitat during migration, but additionally uses any thick vegetation, bushes or undergrowth (Jennings 2010). There is no information available on its diet in the UAE, but elsewhere it mainly feeds on insects and spiders, which are taken from reeds or nearby vegetation, and occasionally on vegetable matter (Jennings 2010). The breeding period lasts from February to July or even longer, suggesting that the species is double-brooded (Jennings 2010). No nest has been described in the UAE, but elsewhere it is a deep cup neatly woven from split reed blades, reed inflorescences, plant down and grass stems and lined with finer material. It is suspended from two to eight vertical reed stems, usually 15-“200 cm over shallow water. Outside Arabia, clutches can be three to five eggs, but are most commonly four.

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).

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).