The species occupies for breeding mostly steppes (and other grassland habitat types, sometimes even agricultural fields) and semi-deserts, usually in close proximity to wetlands like streams and shallow lakes. Its breeding range extends from S Ukraine and possibly E Turkey across C Asia to NE China (Archibald et al. 2020). In Europe it is confined to two separate regions – Crimea/ Azov Sea and Caspian Sea Lowland in S European Russia (Keller et al. 2020).
Long-distance migrant. European populations winter mostly in NE Africa.
Its population trend in Europe is decreasing. Evaluated as “Least Concern” (BirdLife International 2022).