Habitat
In breeding season alpine meadows and marshes with scattered low bushes, or in dwarf scrub in barren, boulder strewn areas. From 3,000 - 5,000 m. In non-breeding season swampy ground in and at the edge of evergreen forest and marshy grassland and scrub.
Bhutan (B), China (mainland) (B), India (B), Laos (NB) (P), Nepal (B) (NB), Vietnam (NB).
Vagrant to Bangladesh (NB), Myanmar (NB), Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka (NB), Thailand (E) (NB).
Himalayas, from north-western India (Himachal Pradesh) through southern and eastern Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and north-eastern India (Arunachal Pradesh and extreme north-eastern Assam) to northern Myanmar and probably south-central China (western Sichuan); possibly also Pakistan. Winters in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, northern Laos, northern Vietnam and rarely northern Thailand.
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat loss due to draingae, clearnace for tea-plnatations, and conversion to agriculture are the main threats. Hunting was and may still be a threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
May give guttural croak or 'che-dep che-dep'. Utters long series of nasal notes 'check-check-check' and 'che-dep che-dep che-dep ip-ip-ip ock ock' during display-flight at breeding grounds.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet