North and East of El Hierro, West, Northeast and East of La Palma, practically the whole island of La Gomera, practically the whole island of Tenerife (except the Central and Southeast area), all Gran Canaria (except the West and the East) , and all of Fuerteventura (except the South).

It is a bird linked to aquatic habitats, preferably with vegetation on its banks. In general it occupies artificial environments such as dams, ponds and reservoirs, but it is also present in natural places, such as ravines with water in its bed and with proliferation of tarajales or reed beds. In migration birds can appear in places as atypical as gardens in cities, golf courses, or the coastal strip. The nest is well hidden among the vegetation of the banks, sometimes in plants floating on the water, and sometimes on land several meters from the shore, being very exceptional in hollows and small cavities in the retaining walls of the ponds and prisoners. The breeding population makes movements of some importance. (Martín & Lorenzo, 2001)