It breeds in the tundra and the steppes of Siberia. It winters in Europe, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia up to Kazakhstan. In Bulgaria, they overwinter thousands, accompanied by white-fronted geese. They are most numerous from late January to early February. It nests in June in small colonies often on a slope or cliff near the Peregrine Falcon, Hawk and the Snowy Owl, which provide protection against foxes and stoats. The starting migration takes place in the month of September, while the species forms large troops with the white-fronted geese.

It feeds mainly by grazing on land near the banks. In extreme cold, they huddle against each other, several thousand individuals stand hot, as do the penguins of Antarctica. Winter nights, they rest on the lake accompanied at night of thousands of white-fronted geese.