Formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, it is now placed in the newly recognized family Locustellidae.

B. mandelli was until recently considered a subspecies of B. seebohmi, and the name "russet bush warbler" was applied to the entire species complex.

After this was split up, Benguet bush warbler was proposed as a new name for B. seebohmi proper.

The species is found in southeast Asia.

[1] The scientific name commemorates the Italian naturalist Louis Mandelli.