Status and distribution Main breeding range is from Belarus and the Ukraine east to the Volga Delta and the Urals. Breeds in scattered localities in West and Central Europe including Spain and Mallorca, France and the Netherlands, Hungary, northern Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and northern Greece. Has bred sporadically in many other European countries and also Turkey, the Near East and North Africa.

A summer visitor throughout the region, winter range largely unknown but probably East Africa. Some probably winter around the Mediterranean, in the Nile Valley and in Iraq but status little-known due to secretive nature. Migration periods late-Aug-Nov and Mar-May.

Vagrants recorded throughout Europe north to the Faroes and Britain, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Estonia, on the larger Mediterranean islands and on Azores, Madeira and Canary Is. British records mainly in spring but in recent years extremely rare, more numerous and apparently bred in 19th century.

Subspecies The race intermedia occurs in much of Europe while the paler nominate race pusilla is found in Russia.

Habitat Flooded meadows, marshland and swamps. Prefers sedges and rushes to reeds and sometimes found in tall vegetation in drier situations.