It is a resident breeder in Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland, and a vagrant to Namibia.

This species is found in subtropical open woodland, dry savanna, shrubland and suburban gardens.

The fiscal flycatcher was previously the only member of the genus Sigelus but was moved to Melaenornis based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010.

It may prey on the spiny caterpillars or "woolly worms" of tiger moths, after first scrubbing them on the ground or on bark, thereby denuding them of the worst of their spines.

It also feeds on various species of small wild berries, such as Halleria and Chrysanthemoides, and from nectar-rich flowers such as some Aloe.