It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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

Though not considered migratory, it may make small seasonal movements to higher or lower elevations.

A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2018 found that neither Phylloscopus nor Seicercus were monophyletic.

[5] In the subsequent reorganization the two genera were merged into Phylloscopus which has priority under the rules of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.