According to Gould this Asian species had only once been recorded in England. In November, 1864 it was discovered near Brighton, identified by Gould, and the specimen exhibited at the Zoological Society. It was the subject of articles in Proceedings of the Zoological Society 1864 and The Ibis 1865.

DISTRIBUTION: Breeds northern Eurasia and winters south and west to Britain, near east, India, southeast Asia and Philippines. Scarce and scattered winter visitor to Britain