Local breeder in the Great Plain and Moson lowlands, NW Hungary. Due to the loss of large grasslands as their original habitat, breeds on mosaics of grasslands, cereal fields and lucerne fields. The breeding population was 2700 indi­ viduals in 1969 (when the species became protected by law), 3600 in 1978, 2600–2800 in 1984–1985. Due to harsh winters in the next consecutive years, the population dropped by a thousand birds. In the 1990s, 1200–1300 specimens were counted. Due to active protection (land­purchasing, habitat management, predator management, changing aerial electric cables to underground lines etc.) population is 1480–1680 individuals by now.