It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo.

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

It is becoming rare due to habitat loss.

[2] The current placement of the streaked bulbul in the genus Ixos is not fixed with any certainty.

[3] Both the alternate name 'green-backed bulbul' and the synonym Hypsipetes malaccensis are also shared with the eastern bearded greenbul.