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This is a common migrant to the lowland areas. During the season, these waders can be observed at most dry zone water bodies and a small number at suitable localities in the wet zone as well. They are known to breed from Northern Scotland eastwards across Northern Europe and Asia. They winter in Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and Australia.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Least Concerned (IUCN Red List) and it is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

These birds do not occur in large flocks. Usually a few individuals are seen in the company of other waders feeding or resting at the edge of water bodies of the dry zone. They are quite common at the inland freshwater tanks as well. In the dry zone I have seen them at all the dry zone national parks and at many localities from about Chilaw all the way up to Point Pedro, the Jaffna Peninsula and down the east coast up to about Matara in the South. They are common in Mannar, Jaffna, Delft Island and Analativu Island in the North. In the South I have observed them during the season at Talangama Marshes and Kotte Marshes. I have never observed them at any location in the hills.

At Wilpattu this is a regular species seen at many localities. Once at Kudapatessa I watched one of these birds feed on a large frog that it had caught. In April 2004, I observed this species in the Palliya Watta Island off Kudiramalai Point. Mahapatessa and Borupan Wila are two locations where this species can always be seen from September until late April.