An erect to semi-pendant small shrub, typically found on ledges, walls or other sites protected from browsing (Feulner 2016), but also found on wadi floors, for example, after rains. The seed may be wind-dispersed, but within short distances (D. Aplin pers. comm. 2019) and also to some degree through consumption by animals.

This species is an annual or perennial amaranth that grows up to 150 cm (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It grows in silt among rocks and produces round leaves in addition to flowers from February to April (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is typically found in shaded, sheltered and relatively mesic conditions. The species appears to be long lived as known individuals have survived in the same locality for over a decade (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010).

This species inhabits grassland, irrigated grassland, marshes, scrubland and cultivations (Richardson 1990, Richardson and Aspinall 1998, Aspinall and Porter 2011). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere it is insectivorous and feeds mainly on beetles and grasshoppers (Tyler 2019). The species is a long-distance migrant and breeds between April and July in grasslands of Siberia and Kazakhstan (Tyler 2019).

This species occurs in a variety of open habitats, including high and low grasslands, scrubland, cultivated fields, golf courses and large parks (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It avoids deserts (Richardson 1990). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere during winter, it is primarily herbivorous and feeds on seeds and other plant material (Donald and Garcia 2014). During winter, it forms flocks of more than 20 individuals (Richardson 1990). The species is migratory and breeds from late March to August and September throughout Eurasia.

This species occurs along sheltered coasts and is only rarely found at sea or far from land (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It inhabits a variety of habitats along the coast, including bays, mudflats, coastal creeks, brackish lagoons and mangroves, and further inland, including fish farms, sewage treatment plants, rubbish dumps and well-vegetated sites (Jennings 2010). It is largely insectivorous and takes terrestrial and aquatic insects or molluscs, which it catches from surface water, on the ground or during flight (Jennings 2010). The species is migratory, dispersing widely after breeding before travelling southwards to the wintering grounds (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The population migrating through or wintering in the UAE breeds from Europe to central Asia and winters in Africa, the Middle East and India (Jennings 2010).

There is no information available about the species's ecology and habitat requirements in the UAE; the following information comes from elsewhere in Arabia and Africa, but likely also applies to the population in the UAE. The species inhabits well-vegetated, wooded wadis and is often found near human sites (Jennings 2010). It feeds mainly on invertebrates like beetles, mantids and grasshoppers, but likely takes also small birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, molluscs and crustaceans, which are captured by pouncing from perches or searching on the ground (Jennings 2010). The species is entirely nocturnal; during the day it retreats to rocks, bushes and palm trees (Jennings 2010). Pairs remain together for life (Jennings 2010). The breeding period lasts from March to June or July (Jennings 2010). Nests are placed in scrapes on the ground, in crevices in rocks or cliffs, or in holes in a tree or building (Jennings 2010). Clutches contain two to four eggs (Jennings 2010).

This strictly marine species can be found over pelagic waters far from land (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It feeds on large species of shoaling fish, especially flying fish, but will also take large squid (del Hoyo et al. 1992). It forages by plunge-diving, followed by pursuits under water (Jennings 2010). It breeds year-round on rocky coasts and offshore islands on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Jennings 2010). While adults usually remain close to the colony, particularly young birds disperse over large distances across the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman and occasionally into the Arabian Gulf (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017).

This species inhabits coastal waters and is found at fishing harbours and lagoons. Occasionally, it forages further inland in cultivated fields, along rivers and especially at refuse dumps and sewage treatment plants (Richardson 1990, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Snow and Perrins 1998, Olsen and Larsson 2003). There is not much known about the species ecology in the UAE; thus most of the following information refers to its global distribution range during the non-breeding season. Its diet consists of fish, invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals, refuse, offal, and bird eggs and chicks (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Snow and Perrins 1998, Olsen and Larsson 2003). Outside of the breeding season, the species is gregarious. It is fully migratory. It returns to the breeding grounds in central Asia around April, where it breeds colonially (Richardson 1990, del Hoyo et al. 1996).

This species breeds on arid, gravelly plains interspersed with sandy areas and scanty scrub vegetation, often away from water (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It avoids sand-sea desert and mountainous or rocky regions, and is only rarely seen at freshwater or saltwater margins (Jennings 2010). Outside of the breeding season, it is found on open plains in a wider variety of habitats, including short grassland, irrigated fields, cropland, cattle enclosures and rubbish sites, but also in the outskirts of towns, in parks and gardens, as well as on golf courses (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It forages on the ground or in low vegetation, occasionally digging with its bill for food items (Jennings 2010). Its diet includes invertebrates like grasshoppers, spiders, beetles, cockroaches, bugs, termites, maggots and caterpillars, but also seeds and vegetable matter (Jennings 2010). Even though it is occasionally observed drinking at pools or dripping pipes, it likely obtains most of its liquids from food. During the hottest part of the day, the species retreats to shady spots (Jennings 2010). Breeding pairs form in January and February; eggs are laid between February and April, occasionally until June. The nest consists of an unlined patch of gravel in a sandy spot. Two eggs are placed directly on the bare ground (Jennings 2010). After the breeding season, individuals congregate in large groups (Jennings 2010). During winter, a migratory population occurs in the UAE, which most likely migrates from breeding grounds in Iraq, Syria and Iran (Jennings 2010).

This species inhabits well-vegetated rivers, brackish and freshwater ponds and lakes, reed beds and irrigation ditches (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It often perches in trees or bushes (Jennnings 2010). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere it is mainly insectivorous and takes insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars and beetles (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Kushlan and Hancock 2005). Other food items include spiders, molluscs, crustaceans, fish, frogs, tadpoles, small reptiles and birds (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Kushlan and Hancock 2005). It it is mainly a crepuscular feeder (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Kushlan and Hancock 2005). The migratory population breeds between May and July in Europe and Asia (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Jennings 2010). The species's breeding behaviour in the UAE is unknown, but elsewhere in Arabia it breeds between April and June in reed beds and possibly mangroves (Jennings 2010). Only one nest has been described in Arabia, which was made of dry stems lined with leaves and placed in reeds about 25 cm above the water level. It is suspected that clutches contain five eggs (Jennings 2010).