Fuscous Honeyeaters inhabit the dry eucalypt woodlands of eastern Australia from near Cairns through to central Victoria. They are one of the plainest of the "plumed" group of honeyeaters and have the smallest and less distinct neck plume. They are closely related to the Yellow-tinted Honeyeater of tropical northern Australia.

Fuscous Honeyeaters tend to occur in scattered colonies in open woodland and when breeding, pairs occupy small territories which the males defend with aerial song flights or from elevated perches.