Range: Migratory populations have a widespread breeding range from Europe to Korea, and descend to lower latitudes in Asia and Africa during winter. Resident populations occur throughout Africa across the Middle East to India and Southeast Asia. In Southeast Asia, breeds at least south to northern Peninsular Malaysia. 

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: epops, saturata, ceylonensis, longirostris, major, senegalensis, waibeli, africana.