It is a Eurasian species, although it is largely absent from the Far East (BirdLife International, 2024). In Europe, it has a discontinuous distribution, well spread across the continent except in Ireland and northern Scotland (Keller et al., 2020). In Spain, it occupies several areas of the Iberian Peninsula, such as the northern plateau, the Guadalquivir valley, and the Mediterranean and Cantabrian coasts (Aymí and Gordo in SEO/BirdLife, 2022). In the Balearic Islands it breeds occasionally (Garcias, 2008); in Ceuta and the Canary Islands the species is recorded only during migratory passages, although it does breed in Melilla.

In Madrid, it breeds in the mountainous areas of the autonomous community, as well as in parts of the floodplains of major rivers, selecting irrigated lowland areas and ash woodlands. It is usually associated with cattle and is also found in wet meadows and mountain areas with herbaceous vegetation (Díaz et al., 1994).

In the national park, it has been detected occasionally in grassland areas in the Altos de la Morcuera and in the Manzanares valley west of La Pedriza.