In South Asia, this species is found in montane forests and valleys with tall trees in the vicinity of water (Molur et al. 2002). It feeds on beetles (Bates and Harrison 1997). There is little information on the natural history of this species in China (Smith and Xie 2008). It has been recorded only from tall and hill forest in Peninsula Malaysia. In Philippines, the species is known from primary and disturbed lowland forest (Ingle and Heaney 1992; Rickart et al. 1993) and is believed to probably be dependent on lowland forest.

This widespread species has been recorded from southern South Asia, through parts of southern China to insular Southeast Asia. In South Asia, this species is presently known from India (Assam, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal), recorded from 475 to 750 m asl (Molur et al. 2002). This taxon may probably also occur in Bhutan (Molur et al. 2002). In China, it has been recorded from Yunnan, Guangdong, Fujian, and is present on the island of Taiwan (Smith and Xie 2008). In Southeast Asia, it has been recorded from a few scattered localities on the mainland, and from Indonesia (the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok and Ambon) and the Philippines. In the Philippines, it has only been recorded from the islands of Luzon Leyte, Negros, and Panay (Heaney et al. 1998).

In South Asia, there are no conservation measures in place and the species has not been recorded from any protected areas. Surveys, ecological studies, population monitoring are recommended for this species in South Asia (Molur et al. 2002). It has been recorded from a number of protected areas in Southeast Asia.