It is a fully migratory bird, breeding in Kazakhstan and wintering in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Sudan.

The specific gregarius is Latin for "sociable" from grex, gregis, "flock" referring to its tendency to be present alongside conspecifics and other closely related birds.

[5] Juveniles have a bordered back feathers giving them a “scaly” appearance and only traces of the head pattern.

On its western route, it passes over Central Asia and turkey to winter in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon, a few regions in Saudi Arabia, as well as Eastern Africa.

On their way, individuals have been observed in nearly every European country[9] and the French Empire, often found alongside the Northern lapwing on its migratory and vagrancy trips.

[5] The estimated population count was enhanced following decades long studies and, in October 2007, a superflock of approximately 3,200 sociable lapwings were discovered in Turkey, according to Guven Eken, director of the Turkish Nature Association.

The fieldwork undergone that led to the discoveries of thousands of sociable lapwings had led to the population being much larger than once feared, however it was also discovered adults have low survival rates, and the population is projected to decline at a similar or accelerated rate.

The reasons for the crash of the population are largely unknown, but hunting along migratory flyways have been attributed as a notable threat at the very least.