Forages in the forest interior, including both primary and secondary forest, in tropical moist forest and open woodland (Ruedas et al. 1994, Lepiten 1995, Bonaccorso 1998, Pavey 1999, Duncan et al. 1999). It roosts as individuals or small colonies in caves, mines and similar habitats.

This species has been recorded from the Philippines (islands of Luzon (Abra Province), Mindoro, Negros, Mindanao (Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur provinces), Polillo and Samar (Gonzales pers. comm. 2004) and Siquijor (Heaney et al. 1998), north-eastern Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia), Indonesia (Sulawesi, Buton, Flores, Halmahera (S. Hamilton and K.N. Armstrong unpublished data), the Kai Islands, Geelvinck Bay in the Province of West Papua), Timor-Leste (K.N. Armstrong unpublished data), numerous locations in Papua New Guinea both north and south of the central cordillera (K.N. Armstrong unpublished data), and from north-eastern Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia (Corbet and Hill 1992, Flannery 1995, Bonaccorso 1998, Churchill 2008). It has been recorded between 200 and 1,500 m asl.

Broadscale protection of forests will help maintain population size in this species. It has been recorded from protected areas in both Australia and the Philippines. A Recovery Plan for this species has been developed for the Australian population (Thomson et al. 2001). Until taxonomic studies are completed, it should be considered that island populations could represent the extent of occurrence of an entire species. Additional research is required to determine the species distribution, population status and trends, threats, and basic ecology.