Afghanistan (B), Albania (B), Algeria, Armenia (B) (NB), Azerbaijan (B) (NB), Bangladesh, Bhutan (NB), Bulgaria (B) (NB), China (mainland), Cyprus (NB), Denmark (P), Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia (B), Greece (B) (NB), India, Iran [Islamic Republic of] (B) (NB) (P), Iraq (B) (NB), Israel, Italy (NB), Kazakhstan (B), Kyrgyzstan (B), Laos, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Moldova [Republic of] (B) (P), Mongolia (B), Morocco (B), Myanmar (NB), Nepal, Oman (NB) (P), Pakistan, Qatar, Romania (B) (NB) (P), Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (B) (NB) (P), Saudi Arabia (B), South Korea, Spain (B) (NB), Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic (NB) (P), Tajikistan (B), Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey (B) (NB) (P), Turkmenistan (E) (B), Ukraine (B) (NB), United Arab Emirates (NB), Uzbekistan (B), Vietnam, Western Sahara (B).
Vagrant to Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska), Czech Republic (B), Eritrea, Finland, France, Germany (B), Greenland, Hong Kong (China), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of] (B) (NB), Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands Antilles (NB), North Korea, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia (Slovak Republic), Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland (B), Taiwan (China), United Kingdom, Yemen.
South-eastern Europe east to L Baikal and Mongolia. Also in north-western Africa, Ethiopian highlands. Formerly more widespread in western part of range.
Population
Estimated population is 170,000 - 220,000 (2010).
Status LC
Loss and degradation of inland wetlands through subterranean water extraction for irrigation, widespread drainage of shallow marshes and lakes, salt extraction, urban development, pollution, introduction of exotic fish and overgrazing are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Plant material and small invertebrates.
Voice
A nasal trumpeting or whooping. A loud 'ang', 'agh' or rolling 'aarl' is uttered in flight. The female generally has a deeper call.
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