All of the component species are adaptable, and the group as a whole is found in a variety of forest habitats, including upper and lower montane forest, hill forest, lowland rainforest and monsoonal forest, dry sclerophyll woodland and Melaleuca swamps (Bonaccorso 1998, Law and Spencer 2008). It forages commonly through gardens and plantations, and can also be found adjacent to heathland habitats. Females give birth to single young but they can breed more than once annually. L. Hall (pers. comm.) reports that this species in Australia (typical S. australis) roosts in colonies in dense foliage in large-leaved trees. However, numerous observations of roosting animals in Papua New Guinea by K.P. Aplin always involve either single animals or small groups including juveniles. Feeding behaviour is poorly documented but incidental observations suggest that lowland populations in Papua New Guinea feed on a variety of flowering and fruit trees, utilising both nectar and fruit resources.

This widespread species complex ranges from the Moluccan Islands of Indonesia (including the islands of Ambon, Seram, and Gebe), to the islands of Salawati, Biak and Yapen (all Indonesia), throughout much of the island of New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), and the Aru Islands (Indonesia). The species is present in the Bismarck Archipelago (including the islands of New Britain and New Ireland; Papua New Guinea), on the island of Manus in the Admiralty Islands (Papua New Guinea), on the D’Entrecasteaux Islands (Papua New Guinea), the Louisiade Archipelago (Papua New Guinea), and is also found in Australia where it ranges through the forests of eastern Queensland and New South Wales (Flannery 1995a,b; Bonaccorso 1998; Law and Spencer 2008). Overall, the species complex occurs from sea level to 3,000 m a.s.l. (Bonaccorso 1998) but there is altitudinal replacement of sibling species with zones of sympatry (K.P. Aplin, K.N. Armstrong and K.M. Helgen unpublished data). In New South Wales, it occurs only at low elevations, typically in the coastal lowlands (M. Pennay pers. comm.).

It has been recorded from many protected areas.