Singing Honeyeaters have a very widespread distribution and occur throughout Australia except for most of the east coast, Cape York and the Top End. The name Singing Honeyeater is inappropriate to say the least - their song is loud enough but certainly not melodious.

Not forest birds, they inhabit a variety of shrublands - mallee, mulga and saltbush. Fairly omnivorous, they not only eat nectar and insects but seek out a wide variety of native fruits including saltbush. Adults live in pairs in permanent territories and feeding aggregations of up to 20 have been seen but are unusual.