Usually found in gallery forests, forest edges and riparian woodlands within both humid and dry savannas. Occasionally occurs in tall, well-wooded suburban parks and gardens, especially ones that provide water in ponds and pots, from sea level up to 1,000m (Turner and Boesman 2024, Clive R Barlow in litt. 2025). In Gambia, the species is doing well in green spaces where well established mangos are replacing indigenous trees (Clive R Barlow in litt. 2025).

Found in southern Senegal and Gambia, and Guinea, eastward to northern Nigeria and northwestern Cameroon, with its range extending south to the coast in Ivory Coast, Ghana and Togo (but not in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria). There is also an apparently isolated population in the far southern Chad and northern Central African Republic (del Hoyo et al. 1997).

Conservation Actions Underway
Included in CITES Appendix III by Ghana (Turner and Boesman 2024). Numerous protected areas exist within the species' range (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2025).

Conservation and Research Actions Proposed
Population size estimates need to be established and population trends should be monitored. The most important areas for the species should be identified, and protection should be increased for the last remaining intact forests. Habitat restoration efforts in degraded areas should be explored to support recolonisation. The impacts of climate change on the species and its habitat should be investigated to anticipate future challenges. Community engagement and awareness about the importance of preserving forest habitats should be enhanced. Additionally, enforcement of laws against illegal logging and land conversion within protected areas needs strengthening, and sustainable land-use practices should be developed to balance human development with wildlife conservation. National and international trade should be monitored and quantified regularly, with management measures implemented to ensure trade remains at sustainable levels.