Palearctic populations of this species undergo extensive post-breeding dispersal movements in all directions and are also fully migratory, travelling southward on a broad front (Billerman et al. 2020) between August and October and returning to the north from March to April (Kushlan and Hancock 2005). In the western Palearctic the species breeds mainly between May and July. It breeds singly or occasionally in small loose groups in favourable areas (Billerman et al. 2020). The species is most common in freshwater marshes with beds of bulrushes (Typha spp.), reeds (Phragmites spp). (Hockey et al. 2005) or other dense aquatic vegetation, preferably also with deciduous bushes and trees (Billerman et al. 2020) such as willow (Salix spp). or alder (Alnus spp.) (Kushlan and Hancock 2005, Billerman et al. 2020). It may also occupy the margins of lakes, pools and reservoirs (Billerman et al. 2020), wooded and marshy banks of streams and rivers (Kushlan and Hancock 2005), peat bogs (Billerman et al. 2020), wooded swamps, wet grasslands, rice-fields (Billerman et al. 2020), rank vegetation around sewage ponds (Hockey et al. 2005), and in places the margins of saline lagoons (Billerman et al. 2020) and saltmarshes (Kushlan and Hancock 2005). Its diet varies with region and season but it is essentially insectivorous and takes aquatic adult and larval insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars (Billerman et al. 2020) and beetles (Kushlan and Hancock 2005). Other food items include spiders, molluscs, crustaceans (Billerman et al. 2020) (e.g. shrimp and crayfish) (Kushlan and Hancock 2005), fish, frogs, tadpoles, small reptiles and birds. The nest is constructed from reeds and twigs (Billerman et al. 2020) and is normally placed near open pools in thick emergent vegetation (Kushlan and Hancock 2005) (such as beds of bulrushes Typha spp. or reeds (Phragmites spp.)) (Hockey et al. 2005) close to the surface of the water or up to 60 cm above it (Snow and Perrins 1998). Alternatively nests may be placed in low bushes or trees (e.g. alder or willow) up to two metres above water (Kushlan and Hancock 2005, Billerman et al. 2020). Preferred nesting sites are usually 5–15 m out from the shore in water 20–30 cm deep (Snow and Perrins 1998).

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.

Conservation Actions Underway
The species is listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, Annex II of the Bern Convention and Annex II of the Convention on Migratory Species, under which it is covered by the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Although conservation measures in the European breeding grounds are unlikely to reverse declines in this species, wider-scale conservation actions should be taken, for example, the maintenance of reedy fringes to rivers and ditches. Habitat protection in Europe should be undertaken so that sufficient habitat exists for the species should habitat conditions in Africa become more favourable (Tucker and Heath 1994). Other measures should include: Sustainably managing river valleys and reed marshes, including the reduction of water pollution and fish overexploitation; Minimising disturbance at the breeding sites by recreation.