It is native to the southeastern and eastern United States, its distribution extending as far north as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and far southern New York.

[1][3] It is native throughout most of its range, but some populations represent introductions, such as those in Lake Ontario and the upper Susquehanna River system.

[4] In many areas, this fish is sympatric with a closely related member of its genus, the banded sunfish (E. obesus).

[5] A number of parasitic flatworms have been observed in this fish, such as Gyrodactylus gloriosi and several Urocleidus species.

[9] This freshwater fish occupies ponds, lakes, creeks, streams, and medium-sized rivers.

It consumes cyclopoid copepods, water fleas, midge larvae, ostracods,[6] amphipods, and snails.