During the breeding season the species inhabits wetlands surrounded by fringing vegetation in open grassland (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), sedge or heather moorland (Johnsgard 1978), arctic tundra, steppe or semi-desert from sea-level up to 2,300 m (Snow and Perrins 1998). It nests near streams, saltmarshes (Kear 2005), river flood-plains, reedy marshes, grassy bogs, damp meadows, reed-lined freshwater lakes and estuaries (Johnsgard 1978) close to potential feeding sites such as meadows, grasslands, stubble fields and newly sown cereal fields (Kear 2005). It requires isolated islands out of reach of land predators for nesting. In the autumn (before migration) the species also frequents agricultural land (Kear 2005). In the winter the species inhabits lowland farmland in open country, swamps, lakes, coastal lagoons (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), reservoirs and estuaries (Madge and Burn 1988).

The species breeds from May or April in loose colonies (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014, Kear 2005). The nest is a shallow construction of plant matter placed among reedbeds, on the ground (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), in or at the base of trees, under bushes or in sheltered hollows on isolated wooded islands on lakes or along coasts (Johnsgard 1978, Kear 2005), as well as on rafts of vegetation in rivers (Snow and Perrins 1998). Usually four to six eggs are laid (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). The species is herbivorous, its diet consisting of grasses, the roots, shoots, leaves, stems, seedheads and fruits of other herbaceous marsh vegetation (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), aquatic plants (Johnsgard 1978), and agricultural grain and potatoes. This species is fully migratory although some populations in temperate regions are only sedentary (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014) or locally dispersive (Scott and Rose 1996), occasionally making irregular movements in very icy winters (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014).

Although the generation length for both EU and Europe regional assessments were calculated using the same methodology, new information arriving after the EU assessments were undertaken gave rise to an update in the generation lengths. This new information was then used for the Europe level assessments giving rise to a difference between the generation lengths used for the EU and Europe regions.

This species breeds in most countries in Europe, notably in the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland and Norway.
It winters largely in the Netherlands but also notably in Spain, Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

Conservation Actions Underway
EU Directives Annex II. CMS Appendix II. The species has been successfully reintroduced or introduced in some areas, for example Austria, Belgium, parts of Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Accurate monitoring of bag numbers in countries where the species is hunted should be implemented. The integration of farming and conservation measures along with protection of key wetland sites is needed to ensure the population remains stable.