The species occurs in wadis, plantations, gardens, farms and other irrigated habitats. G.R. Feulner (pers. comm. 2019) commented that the species is almost exclusively peri-agricultural, whilst M. Jongbloed (pers. comm. 2019) considers it to be common and widespread in wadis, plantations and gardens within the Hajar Mountains, as well as in urban areas.

This small shrub inhabits environments in or near to water, such as irrigation channels and wetlands (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It is an annual species and can grow up to 30 cm in height, producing green hairy stems with narrow lance-shaped leaves, in addition to yellow button-like flower-heads which are present between February and April (Jongbloed et al. 2003).

This salt-tolerant perennial species is found in sand, plantations and gardens, in addition to around sabkhas or salt marshes (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Karim and Dhakeel 2006). It grows as a weed in cultivated areas (Karim and Dhakeel 2006). G. Brown (pers. comm. 2019) considers the main habitat to be saline soils (margins of sabkha), but also gardens.

It occurs in sand along the Gulf coast, and also in gardens and cultivated areas associated with fresh or slightly brackish water (Jongbloed et al. 2003).

It is an annual herb species that can grow up to 15 cm in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Brown et al. 2007). This plant has fine stems, basal rosette leaves and spoon-shaped stem leaves (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Flower spikes that resemble a tuft of grass can be seen between February and April (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It generally grows within stable sand and silt substrates that can be found in between rocks and in wadis (Jongbloed et al. 2003).

This species inhabits a variety of arid, sparsely vegetated habitats, including desert, semi-desert, gravel plains, scrubland, hillsides with low scattered bushes, scrubby saltflats and coastal dunes (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It avoids wooded areas (Aspinall and Porter 2011). The diet is thought to consist mostly of small insects (e.g. grasshoppers, moths), seeds and berries. The species is migratory. The breeding season starts in late April.

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).

This species occurs in dry habitats with open wooded and thorn scrub areas (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Sparse and low vegetation is an important habitat characteristic for this species (Yosef and International Shrike Working Group 2016). It generally avoids narrow, enclosed areas such as wadis and hillsides, as well as cities (Jennings 2010). It prefers the same habitat type both during the breeding and the non-breeding season (Jennings 2010). It is closely associated with acacia scrub and only occurs where acacia is present (Jennings 2010). The species is a highly opportunistic feeder; it feeds principally on large insects and on small vertebrates such as rodents, particularly voles, but also small birds, lizards, amphibians and snakes (Lefranc and Worfolk 1997, Jennings 2010). Large items are broken down to transport and to swallow (Jennings 2010). Surplus food is stored on the thorns of acacia or other thorny plants, which are used as larders (Jennings 2010). The breeding period peaks in March to May, but breeding may start as early as November (Jennings 2010). The nest is an untidy structure with a loose foundation of twigs, grass, rootlets, string, lined with rootlets, feathers and hair. It is generally placed high above ground in a fork or on a lateral branch of a thorny bush or tree with thick foliage, preferably acacia (Jennings 2010). Clutches contain three to four, occasionally up to six eggs (Jennings 2010). In the UAE, up to three broods per season have been recorded (Jennings 2010).

This species inhabits all kinds of permanent wetland sites (Jennings 2010). It particularly prefers freshwater marshy pools and lakes with abundant vegetation cover along the borders, floating and emergent vegetation, dense reeds and wet bushy areas near watercourses offering abundant hiding places (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011, R. Khan pers. comm.). Occasionally, it occurs in eutrophic water near dump sites, in saline habitats or mangroves. Recently, populations became established in artificial waterbodies (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019, R. Khan (Dubai Safari, Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). When foraging, it may venture into open water or dry habitats, such as crop fields and gardens near wetlands (Jennings 2010). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere it is omnivorous and opportunistic, its diet consisting of earthworms, crustaceans, molluscs, insects, spiders, small fish, tadpoles and occasionally birds eggs, as well as plant matter such as filamentous algae, moss and the vegetative parts of reeds and aquatic plants, as well as berries and fruits (del Hoyo et al. 1996). While the species forms small flocks during the non-breeding season, it becomes territorial and aggressive with the onset of the breeding season in early spring. The breeding season is very long; eggs have been recorded from January in the UAE until August on the Saudi Arabian coast of the Arabian Gulf, the majority of chicks have been observed between April and July (Jennings 2010). The nest is a bulky cup constructed from twigs and waterside vegetation, which is placed on floating or partially submerged objects on water, in reed beds or adjacent to water (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Jennings 2010). Clutches contain around eight, seldom up to 13 eggs (Jennings 2010). Part of the population in the UAE is migratory; individuals breed from eastern Europe to central Asia and move south towards the UAE or from September to December and return again from March to May (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Jennings 2010).

The species occupies dry rocky hillsides with little vegetation or wadis (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is often found in close proximity to water, particularly during hot days (Jennings 2010). It feeds in small groups, taking seeds on the ground or from small plants (Jennings 2010). A peculiarity of this species is its feeding technique of jumping up to grab seed heads of herbs and grass and feed while standing on them to hold them down (Fry and Eriksen 1994, Jennings 2010). The breeding season starts in January or February, with juveniles fledging in April and May (Jennings 2010). The clutch consists of two to four eggs (Jennings 2010). Nests are small cups of twigs, roots and grass and are placed in holes in cliffs and precipices (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011).