This species is uncommon. It inhabits inland wetlands and grasslands of lowland forests, from the sea level up to 1,400m. It forages on rodents, frogs, water birds, and snakes. It is migratory, breeding in Mongolia, Russia, China, Belarus, Poland, and Estonia. Its wintering areas include India, Sri Lanka, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Israel, Libya, and Cameroon (BirdLife International 2017).

Conservation Status:  
 

This species is listed as Vulnerable 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 estimate of  3,300-8,800 individuals. The threat to its persistence comes from habitat disturbance due to large-scale agriculture. Other threats to this species are electrocution, hunting, and poaching (BirdLife International 2017).