Widespread in Africa south of the Sahara, this species occurs mainly in the Okavango Delta in Botswana and on rivers and large protected areas in Zimbabwe and north-eastern South Africa. In Namibia it is rare and occurs on the northern rivers, including (in decreasing order of abundance) the Chobe, Okavango, Kunene and Kwando rivers. Congregations of up to 91 birds occur in summer at Lake Oponono. A total of 64 adult birds were recorded at the Impalila-Kasane rapids on the Chobe River in September 2011 and small numbers are recorded from shallow inland dams such as the Omatako and those around Windhoek. Some birds occur as far south as the Fish River and Orange River mouth, reflecting the somewhat nomadic movements of this otherwise resident species.