This species is endemic to the woodlands of south central Africa (Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia), and in southern Africa is most widespread in Zimbabwe. There it has declined in numbers due to thinning of its favoured habitat - undisturbed primary miombo woodland. It only occurs in Namibia in the Kavango east region in mature Kalahari sandveld woodland, and in the Zambezi region in the less disturbed northern woodlands near the Kwando River. It occupies just 4,700 km2 in Namibia, of which 5% lies within protected areas.