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This is a very common breeding resident throughout the island except for the higher hills. Other than in Sri Lanka this species is also native to India and Bangladesh.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Least Concerned (National Red List 2012).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

I have observed this species through out the country. It is common in forested areas as well as in urban areas and is commonly found in the city of Colombo. The highest altitudes at which I have recorded this species have been at Haputale at 1441meters. It is quite common in the north and I have seen it both in the Mannar Island and in the Jaffna peninsula.

This is a regular species that visit the bird-feeding table in my garden to feed on the Sour Bananas or Papaya that I keep daily for the birds. Once I erected a Coconut trunk in one corner of our garden to attract this species to nest and within two weeks had a pair excavating a nesting hole. They used this trunk for almost a year to bring up a few broods until I had to remove it due to decay. 

It is very common at Wilpattu and can be found throughout the park.