Wetlands / paddy fields / marsh edges Insectivore; feeds on flies, beetles, larvae. Nests on ground in dense vegetation near water. Often seen wagging tail actively; winter visitor to South India.

Forest edges / shaded streams / moist leaf litter Insectivore; forages on ground for ants, beetles, and larvae. Migratory winter visitor; breeds in eastern Asia. Distinctive side-to-side tail movement; prefers forest floors.

Wet fields / damp grasslands / marshy edges Insectivore; catches small insects, often near grazing cattle. Ground nester in grass clumps (in breeding range outside India). Highly active; migratory species seen during winter and passage.

Rivers / tanks / stream edges Insectivore; feeds on aquatic and terrestrial insects. Nests in crevices on bridges, walls, or rocks near water. Resident species; territorial pairs often seen near freshwater bodies.