Albania (P), Algeria, Angola, Armenia (B), Austria (B), Azerbaijan, Belarus (B), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria (B) (P), Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, China (mainland) (B), Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Côte dIvoire, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska) (B), Cyprus (P), Czech Republic (B), Denmark (P), Egypt, Estonia (B), Ethiopia, Finland, France (B) (P), Georgia (B) (P), Germany (B) (NB) (P), Greece (P), Hungary (B) (P), Iran [Islamic Republic of], Iraq (P), Israel, Italy (B) (P), Jordan (P), Kazakhstan (B), Kenya, Latvia (B), Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of], Malawi, Mali, Malta (P), Mauritania, Moldova [Republic of] (B), Montenegro (B) (P), Namibia, Nigeria, Poland (B), Romania (B) (P), Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (B) (P), Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia (B) (P), Slovakia (Slovak Republic) (B), Slovenia (P), South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tanzania [United Republic of], Tunisia, Turkey (B) (P), Turkmenistan, Ukraine (B) (P), Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Vagrant to Afghanistan, Bahrain, Belgium, Benin, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Ireland, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands Antilles, Niger, Norway, Portugal, Sâo Tomé e Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, Spain, Swaziland, Togo, United Kingdom, USA, Yemen.
Unknown to Kyrgyzstan.
Eastern Europe, from Estonia and Hungary, east through north-central Asia to extreme north-western China and upper R Lena. Winters mainly in south-western Africa, from Angola, Namibia and northern South Africa through Botswana to Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 300,000 - 800,000 (2010).
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet