It is a localised and uncommon breeder in east Africa north as far as Ethiopia and Eritrea south to Tanzania.

In western Africa it is found from the Central African Republic in the east to the Ivory Coast in the west.

Birds seen in the northern parts of the range, especially in west Africa, are probably nomadic non-breeding visitors.

In southern Africa its habitat is usually dominated by miombo (Brachystegia spp), Mahobohobo (Uapaca kirkiana) or Zambezi teak (Baikiaea plurijuga).

[3] The Ovambo sparrowhawk is territorial and the female does most of the nest-building, creating a platform of sticks lined with bark chips and occasionally green leaves.