A breeding resident. Uncommon, with probably fewer than 20 pairs in the area. Occurs sparsely throughout the Waterberg at dams and along streams and rivers (recorded in 19% of the pentads); usually single birds are encountered, in pairs at breeding sites, or in family groups. Pairs breed solitarily, often reusing the same nest on a cliff ledge in successive years, some sites known to have been in use for decades; breeding occurs erratically, and no attempt to breed often occurs in dry years. Breeds in winter.