This species may be found from humid lowland to mountain forests (Gannon et al. 1989), being especially abundant at lowland forests. Contrary to the general pattern observed in its subfamily, Stenodermartinae, whose members have a general preference for fruits of Moraceae and Cecropiaceae (Nowak 1999), S. lilium feeds mainly on fruits of Solanaceae. Despite this dietary preference, Mello (2006) listed 28 families and 83 species of plants in the diet of S. lilium, based on Geiselman et al. (2002) and his own study. Willig (1983) reported that Vismia was an important dietary item in edaphic Cerrado. There are two reproductive seasons a year in this species, concentrated between the warm-rainy season and the beginning of the dry seasons, and strong evidences of post-partum estrus (Mello 2006). Adult males present a shoulder-gland, which produces a characteristic scent and is related to reproductive activity (Gannon et al. 1989). There are some evidences for seasonal altitudinal migration in S. lilium in the mountains of Argentina (Giannini 1999) and Brazil (Mello 2006). During 10 days in the study by Mello (2006), individuals of S. lilium used areas from 1.31 to 13.67 ha, and foraging patterns evidence that these bats are efficient seed dispersers of Solanaceae.

Sturnira lilium is actually restricted to the Brazilian Shield portions of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina (Velazco and Patterson 2014). Not present in highlands above 1,600 m, usually below 800 m (Samudio pers. comm). The former taxonomic concept of the species included populations from the Lesser Antilles; Sonora and Tamaulipas (Mexico) south to Bolivia, Paraguay, Northern Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil; Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada (Simmons 2005), but this was challenged by phylogenetic studies (Velazco and Patterson 2013).

This species is found in natural reserves, protected areas and National parks through its geographic distribution. However, it is considered Vulnerable and little known in Uruguay (E.M. Gozález, pers. comm).