The breeding habitats of the species include treeless rocky areas (for nesting) or vegetated tundra (for feeding), often close to snow. Outside the breeding season it occurs on open fields, shingle beaches, sand dunes.
The species shows typical circumpolar distribution across the tundra zone. In Europe, it inhabits mountain and coastal tundra in Fennoscandia and Russia (incl. arctic islands), Iceland, and Scotland (Montgomerie, Lyon 2020).
Intra-European migrant. Most populations are migratory, the wintering sites are mostly in the temperate zone.
Its population trend in Europe is unknown. Evaluated as “Least Concern” (BirdLife International 2021).