It is found in moist habitats in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and tropical North Queensland.

[2][3][4] The common fuzz orchid was first formally described in 1882 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Eria fitzalanii and published the description in Southern Science Record.

The type specimen was collected near the Mulgrave River by Eugene Fitzalan.

[6] Pinalia fitzalanii grows on rocks and on trees in humid places in forest and woodland.

It is found in the Solomon Islands, in New Guinea and on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland as far south as Townsville.