Habitat
Rocky areas, cliffs and escarpments in remote arid regions, banks of rivers, along streams or on the coast, dry ground and rocky slopes, in wetlands, on coastal sandy strips, on river beds and in sandy banks on the sea shore, mountain meadows, stubble fields, short grass, rocky semi-arid ground, and damp ground in lower areas of high plateaus. From sea-level - 3500 m.
Vagrant to Cape Verde, Egypt (E), Germany, Jordan, Mali, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Somalia, Spain, Western Sahara.
Morocco and Algeria, south to western Sahara; apparently now breeds only in Morocco. Distribution of eastern population uncertain: until recently bred in south-eastern Turkey, wintering in Arabia, Ethiopia and northern Somalia, but extinct since 1989; recent records in south-western Arabia and Yemen suggest existence of unknown colonies. Formerly more widespread in Near and Middle East; also in Alps, southern Europe and Egypt.
Population
Estimated population is 210 (2010) and decreasing.
Food
Insects, arachnids, scorpions, earthworms, snails, fish, amphibians, lizards and snakes, small rodents and small birds. Also vegetation including berries, shoots, duckweed, and rhizomes of aquatic plants.
Voice
Usually silent. Various hisses and grunts at nest and in display.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet