The species shows a strong preference for fresh standing water (Snow and Perrins 1998, N. Petkov in litt. 2008). It frequents shallow pools and marshes with abundant emergent, floating and shoreline vegetation such as reeds, willows and alders. In the breeding season, it also frequents saline, brackish or alkaline lakes in some areas, e.g. in Hungary, also well-managed fishponds are important summer habitat locally. Outside breeding season, it may frequent larger lakes, including inland seas, reservoirs, lagoons and coastal marshes (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). Generally breeding commences April to May in central Europe and Turkey, but can commence as early as February in southern Europe and as late as end of June in northern areas of its range (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). It breeds in single pairs or loose groups. The nest is a low platform (Snow and Perrins 1998) of reeds, grass and leaves (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014) placed on the ground or on an islet or hummock in thick vegetation close to water (Johnsgard 1978, Kear 2005). Alternatively nests may be placed over water on floating mats of vegetation or in dense reedbeds along the shoreline (Johnsgard 1978). Clutches are usually 8-10 eggs. Although the species is omnivorous, plant material such as seeds, roots and vegetative parts of aquatic plants dominates its diet. Animal matter taken includes worms, molluscs, crustaceans, insects and larvae, amphibians and small fish. This species is chiefly migratory (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), although little is known about its migratory routes (Scott and Rose 1996). Adults undertake a wing moulting period on the breeding grounds between July and August (Robinson and Hughes 2006) and departure from the breeding grounds begins in mid- to late-August (N. Petkov in litt. 2008). The return migration to the breeding grounds begins in early March (Scott and Rose 1996).

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.

In Europe, this species breeds largely in Romania, and also notably in Azerbaijan, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Russia.
It winters largely in Azerbaijan, and also notably in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece and Italy.

Conservation Actions Underway
The species is fully protected in Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland, and is protected from hunting in Austria, Belgium, Greece, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine. It is listed on Annex I of the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds, on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and on Appendices I and II of the Bonn Convention. The species has received little international conservation action, although a number of national initiatives have been developed recently, notably habitat management in Bulgaria and re-introduction schemes in Italy (Berezovikov and Samusev 1998). An International Single Species Action Plan has been adopted by the Bern Convention, CMS and AEWA, which lays out a framework for conservation action throughout the species's range (Robinson and Callaghan 2003). A restoration project for two key breeding sites on the Danube in Bulgaria is underway, funded by the World Bank (N. Petkov in litt. 2003).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Promote the full legal protection of the species and its habitat through national and international legislation; promote environmentally friendly management of fishponds in eastern Europe; promote adequate protection and management of key sites; promote conservation in the wider environment for the benefit of the species and its habitat; prevent mortality and disturbance caused by hunting; monitor the remaining population and develop census techniques; investigate productivity and mortality; investigate ecology and limiting factors; investigate the impact of C. idella on the species and its habitat; develop and implement education programmes for the conservation of A. nyroca and its habitats.