It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan (introduced), Cambodia and Thailand.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.

There is also a huge number of this species inhabiting towns and cities, where they take refuge in abandoned buildings and trees.

They often move in large groups and are considered one of the noisiest species of birds.

The following subspecies are recognised by the International Ornithological Congress:[2]