These localised and elusive birds are found on the coastal plain in the far North-eastern parts of Zululand. They favour seasonally flooded wetlands and floodplains with damp grassland.

The inaccessibility of their habitat, and their habits of sitting within the grass is what makes them so tricky to find.

They occur in pairs in the breeding season.

They are regular (yet erratic) visitors to the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park. They are largely nomadic according to where the most favourable habitat is at the time (largely rainfall dependent).