This species occurs in a wide variety of habitats, only avoiding the most arid zones. It is found in coastal dunes and salt flats, in mountains, wadis and sandy deserts, thorn scrub and dry forest, but also in gardens and cultivations (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It feeds only on nectar, preferring the desert bush Calotropis procera. This plant's adaptation to arid conditions enable Purple Sunbird to survive even several years of drought (Jennings 2010). The species is nomadic in summer, when it leaves the breeding areas in response to declines in food availability (Jennings 2010). Between July and September, it is not found in urban and suburban parks and gardens (Jennings 2010). It has been hypothesized that the species is undergoing seasonal altitudinal migrations, moving from below 500 m, where the density of its preferred feeding bushes is highest, uphill to breed (Jennings 2010). The breeding season starts in March. The nest is a bottle-shaped construction the size of a tennis ball, made from grasses, spider's webs, and pieces of paper and plastic. It is attached to a branch using palm or nylon fibers (Jennings 2010). The clutch consists of two to three eggs, which are mainly incubated by the female (Jennings 2010). A pair may breed two or three times per breeding season (Jennings 2010).

This species inhabits grassy or arid country and semi-desert, given that sufficient vegetation cover is present (Jennings 2010). It is particularly numerous near human settlements, on farmlands, gardens and cultivated areas, as well as along roadsides (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). The species generally becomes scarcer with increasing aridity and distance from human habitations (Jennings 2010). It feeds on the ground, occasionally digging into the surface with the bill (Jennings 2010). It feeds on invertebrates and plant material, such as seeds. Elsewhere, it also feeds on human food scraps, such as bread, fruits and plant shoots (Jennings 2010). The availability of drinking water is important for this species (Jennings 2010). The breeding behaviour is not well explored. In Arabia, the breeding period peaks between May and June, but nesting may already occur from January on (Jennings 2010). The species is monogamous and usually lays a clutch of one to five eggs. The nest is a depression on the ground with an untidy lining of grass or other vegetation (de Juana and Suárez 2004), which placed in the shade of a clump of grass or other plants (Jennings 2010).

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 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 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 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 prefers open country such as cultivated farmland with buildings and settlements, large gardens and moist areas (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). During migration, it occupies almost any area and habitat type (Aspinall and Porter 2011). The species is gregarious. Generally, it feeds almost entirely on flying insects (Snow and Perrins 1998). While it has been suggested that the species has occasionally bred in Ras al-Khaimah, there is no clear evidence of a breeding population in the UAE (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010).

This species occurs in hilly country with rocks, gorges and ravines, caves and cliffs (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is habituated to human presence and regularly occurs in towns and cities, where concrete and high-rise buildings offer attractive nesting sites (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). The species favours arid environments and avoids forested and humid areas (Jennings 2010). It occurs in pairs during the breeding season, but forms small flocks of up to 30 individuals during winter; these flocks range far away from the breeding areas and are regularly found over wetlands with high food availability (Jennings 2010). It feeds almost exclusively on flying insects (Jennings 2010). The breeding season is highly synchronized among years and regions and always peaks between February and April, when two to four eggs are laid (Jennings 2010). Nests are cups constructed of mud, which is collected from damp soils or puddles, and are lined with feathers, grass, hair, sheep's wool and thin plant downs (Jennings 2010). They are attached to vertical surfaces, e.g. in rock crevices and caves, under rock protrusions, but are increasingly placed on man-made structures like concrete buildings (Jennings 2010). Nests can be re-used in consecutive years (Jennings 2010).

This species occurs in arid open, sparsely vegetated country, including barren or grassy areas, semi-desert and steppe, but also in cultivations and parkland (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It is rarely found in very arid environments (Richardson 1990). The species is mainly insectivorous and mostly takes ants, but occasionally feeds on seeds (Jennings 2010). The species is migratory (Collar 2015).