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This is a breeding resident species found throughout the dry lowlands, many locations in the wet zone and up to mid hills. Globally this is a widespread species across the tropical Asia from eastern Pakistan to southern Indochina.

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.

This is an interesting species that makes up for its drab colouration by its melodies calls and striking behaviour. These birds will often fly very close to people when catching insects and would frequently fan out its tail feathers. They tend to trust human beings and often are found quite close to human habitation rather than in deep forests. The neat cup shaped nest is built with fine fibers and held together with cobwebs. It is often built on an exposed branch sometimes very close to human habitation. This rater puzzling selection of the nest location results in a very high degree of predation of its eggs and young. I have seen this species throughout the low country dry zone and also at many locations in the wet zone such as Ratnapura, Kithulgala, Meethirigala, Mulatiyana, Kadugannawa and Hantana. The highest altitude at which I have recorded this species so far is at Haputale at 1441 meters. I have seen them in the Knuckles Forest at an altitude of 1250 meters.

This is not a regularly seen species at Wilpattu. In July 2020 a pair built a nest at the park entrance. I have seen this species on many occasions in and around the park and on a few occasions at our house in Wilpattu but they are never present at these locations continuously.