Habitat
Old, undisturbed, open forests, shallow streams, pools, marshes, swampy patches, damp meadows, flood-plains, pools in dry riverbeds. Occasionally grasslands with stands of reeds or long grass. From sea-level - 2,500 m.
Afghanistan (P), Albania (B), Algeria, Angola, Armenia (B), Austria (B), Azerbaijan (B), Belarus (B), Belgium (B), Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B), Botswana, Bulgaria (B) (NB) (P), Central African Republic, China (mainland), Côte dIvoire, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska) (B) (P), Cyprus (P), Czech Republic (B) (NB), Denmark (P), Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia (B), Ethiopia, France (B) (NB) (P), Georgia (B) (P), Germany (B), Gibraltar (P), Greece (B) (NB) (P), Guinea, Guinea-bissau, Hong Kong (China), Hungary (B) (P), India, Iran [Islamic Republic of] (B), Iraq (NB), Israel (NB) (P), Italy (B) (NB) (P), Japan, Jordan (NB) (P), Kazakhstan (B), Kenya, Kyrgyzstan (B), Laos, Latvia (B), Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania (B), Luxembourg (B), Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of] (B) (NB), Malawi, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova [Republic of] (B) (P), Mongolia (B), Montenegro (B) (P), Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (NB), Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Poland (B) (P), Portugal (B) (NB), Romania (B) (P), Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B) (P), Russia (European) (B), Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia (B) (P), Slovakia (Slovak Republic) (B) (NB), Slovenia (B) (NB), South Africa (B), South Korea, Spain (B) (NB) (P), Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden (B), Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan (China), Tajikistan (B), Tanzania [United Republic of], Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey (B) (NB) (P), Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine (B) (P), Uzbekistan (B), Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe (B).
Vagrant to Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Finland, Gambia, Ghana, Ireland, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Mali, Niger, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.
Breeds across Palearctic, mostly c. 40° 60° N; winters in north-eastern and eastern Africa and from western Pakistan, through northern India to south-eastern and eastern China; some birds probably resident in south-western Spain. Also breeds in scattered populations from Malawi and Namibia to South Africa.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 24,000 - 44,000 (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