This species is rare. It inhabits grasslands and forests of semi-arid areas, from the sea level up to 3,000m. It is migratory, breeding in East Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, and wintering in Middle-east Asia, India, Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Thailand, and Vietnam. This species has undergone extirpation from Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine (BirdLife International 2019).

 

This species is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).


According to the IUCN Red List Assessment, the population of this species is declining, with the current population size estimated at 50,000-75,000 individuals. The threat to its persistence comes from breeding habitat disturbances due to large-scale agriculture, electrocution by high power lines, and exposure to highly toxic Veterinary Drug Diclofenac (used to treat livestock) (BirdLife International 2015).