This species inhabits dry grassland and, in Europe, it also occurs in areas of low-intensity arable cultivation and pastoral land, selecting areas with a high diversity of ground cover such as mosaics of pasture, stubble fields, long-rotation fallow land and legume crops (Martin et al. 2010). Wintering birds in Azerbaijan prefer semi-desert and steppe areas under winter pasturing, and avoid areas of intensive agriculture (Gauger 2007).

Breeding occurs from February until to June (Collar et al. 2014). The species is polygamous (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997); females mate with males on their displaying ground then nest and raise the young alone (Tucker and Heath 1994). The nest is a shallow scrape, usually in dense, short grass cover. Clutches range from two to six eggs (Collar et al. 2014).

Beetles, grasshoppers and other terrestrial invertebrates are a vital source of food in the summer and are fed to the chicks; in the winter plant material (e.g. shoots, leaves, flowerheads and seeds) is more dominant in the diet (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997, Collar et al. 2014). The species varies in its migratory or resident character across its distribution.

In the north and especially in eastern Europe it is migratory as are the breeding birds in France. In Iberia the species is partially migratory, the main wintering grounds being in the south-west of the peninsula (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997).

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, the species breeds mainly in Russia, but also notably in Spain and Portugal, and smaller populations also found in France, Italy, Ukraine, Turkey and Macedonia. 

The species has two widely separated breeding populations. In the European part of its eastern range covers Russia, Ukraine, Macedonia and Turkey. Its western range covers Spain and Portugal, together with the smaller populations in Italy and France. 
The eastern populations winter from Turkey and the Caucasus to Iran, and erratically elsewhere in south Asia. Azerbaijan holds the main wintering quarters, with the Adjinohur valley and Shirvan National Park supporting large numbers (Gauger and Heiß 2010). The western populations winter in the Mediterranean zone, with the Iberian Peninsula holding the most important wintering quarters. In some parts of its range it has declined dramatically since the 19th century, leading to extinctions in at least 11 European countries and probably as a breeding bird in Azerbaijan. The species has now disappeared from mainland Italy, where it occurred in Apulia (V. Bretagnolle in litt. 2007).

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. A European action plan was published in 2001 (E. García in litt. 2007), its implementation was reviewed (Barov and Derhé 2011) and updated  (Iñigo and Barov 2010) in 2010. A species action plan for the species in Sardinia is in preparation. In Catalonia, Management Plans for the SPA with a Little Bustard population have been developed. The species has been the subject of several LIFE Nature projects in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. France and Spain have attempted a joint programme of reinforcement of the populations in central and western France by release of captive-bred chicks during 2006-2009. In France, targeted agri-environmental measures (MAET) have been developed and tested in the region of Poitou-Charentes. Management agreements have been elaborated and signed with farmers, which are believed to have led to an increase of the affected populations (Leitão et al. 2006, Bamière et al. 2011, Bretagnolle et al. 2011). In France, Spain and Portugal national censuses take place every five years (four in France). The number of protected areas established in steppe habitats in those countries has increased.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out coordinated surveys to obtain an up-to-date estimate for the total population. Continue to conduct surveys to monitor population trends. Preserve habitat and alter land-use practices through EU and national policies. Work with land-owners to manage land favourably and reduce hunting. Reduce hunting pressure through awareness campaigns. Ensure fields with permanent cover on arable land through agri-environmental schemes using rotations and fallow land. Eliminate dangerous powerlines.