Confusing. This species has been recorded in primary and mature secondary forests, up to 1,500 m in Peninsular Malaysia (Puan et al. 2020, Eaton et al. 2021). However, on Borneo it appears to be confined to lower elevations, particularly lowland dipterocarp forest at the bases of limestone hills (Puan et al. 2020); presumably here is is excluded from higher elevations by the almost unknown R. dulitensis (Berryman and Boakes 2023). This species is apparently able to persist in small, isolated forest fragments, but is inexplicably absent from large areas of ostensibly suitable habitat. More research is needed.

Rhizothera longirostris occurs in the Sundaic lowlands of south Tenasserim, Myanmar, peninsular Thailand, East (Sabah and Sarawak) and Peninsular Malaysia, and Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia (BirdLife International 2001).

Conservation and research actions underway
Occurs in numerous protected areas across its range.

Conservation and research actions proposed
Investigate more thoroughly its habitat requirements, particularly any apparent differences in different parts of its range. Determine the species' contemporary range on Sumatra, where there are very few recent records. Protect remaining areas of known occupancy; simply to protect tracts of forest may be inadequate for this species, which very clearly has peculiar habitat requirements which we have not yet fully grasped; consequently, protecting areas where there are confirmed recent records will be essential to safeguard the species from future threats.