This species inhabits open country with some grass or shrub cover, especially grassland, steppe, meadows, moorland, scrub and cultivation and it is also found in wetlands and young conifer plantations. In the winter it becomes more widespread, for example occurring over ploughed land. Egg-laying begins in mid-April and continues until early July but varies with latitude; in Europe it peaks in May. It nests on the ground, in dense grass or scrub, crops or marshy vegetation. The nest is a pile of small sticks and grass, 30–60 cm wide. Clutch size is usually three to six eggs. It feeds mostly on vertebrates, especially mammals such as voles, mice and ground squirrels. It also takes birds of open habitats like wetlands and grasslands, particularly passerines. Birds are often the principal prey in the breeding season. The species is completely migratory in northern and north-east Europe and is partially migratory and dispersive elsewhere (Orta et al. 2014).

The breeding range of this species in the Mediterranean is restricted to southern France, Spain and the extreme north of Portugal.

Conservation Actions Underway
Bern Convention Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Large areas of open country should be preserved for this species, particularly lowland and upland heath and heather moorland, steppe, damp marsh and unimproved and marginal grassland with low-intensity grazing. The afforestation of heather moorland and montane scrubland should be banned in countries where these habitats are under threat. The issue of illegal killing of the species needs to be resolved.