This species is rare. It inhabits inland wetlands and aquatic habitats. It is fully migratory, breeding in China, Russia, and wintering in India, Israel, Bulgaria, Turkey, and other European countries. It sometimes congregates in large numbers during migration and disperses in small groups on its wintering grounds (BirdLife International 2017). 

Conservation Status:  

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 5,300-8,700 individuals. The threat to its persistence comes from habitat disturbance due to agriculture and other human encroachments such as hunting along the migratory route and also on wintering grounds (BirdLife International 2017).