In southern Africa, it occurs and breeds only in northern Namibia's Cuvelai palm savannah, and occasionally in cleared areas and natural omuramba wetlands. The reporting rate is 13% in a small area of occupancy of 3,800 km2 that stretches west to about Okandombo on the Kunene River near Swartbooisdrift. The total area inhabited may be 15,000 km2, and the total population was estimated to be about 39 pairs. There is only one breeding record from Namibia, in a hole high in a palm tree.