Its area of occupancy in Namibia is a mere 4,200 km2. It has recently been recorded from the riparian belt along the Kunene River near Epupa Falls at a low density of 0.46 birds per 10 km of river. This is not an isolated population, but a southern extension of a distribution from Angola, where they are described as common. The area is one of Namibia's 21 Important Bird Areas, but has no formal protection.