It is endemic to the Philippines, found throughout the entire country except the Sulu Archipelago and Palawan.

It is the smallest woodpecker in the country and is common throughout, found even in urban areas in cities.

Ebird describes this species as "A small woodpecker of foothill and low-elevation montane forest and more open wooded areas.

Three subspecies are recognized: Other named races are menagei (Sibuyan), leytensis (Samar, Calicoan, Leyte, Bohol) and apo (Mt Apo, on Mindanao), all considered insufficiently distinct and have been merged with the existing subspecies.

[3] The IUCN Red List has assessed this bird as least-concern species as it is common throughout its range and is found throughout the entire Philippines.