South-central Russia (Tuva) and western and southern Mongolia south to north-western and northern China (south to Tien Shan, east to north-eastern Qinghai, northern Gansu, western Inner Mongolia and Ningxia).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Henderson's Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni) [XC491470]
by Peter Boesman from Desert habitat around Chaka salt lake, Qinghai, China (call)
Henderson's Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni) [XC206465]
by Frank Lambert from Haixi, Qinghai, China (alarm call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Forms a species pair with Xinjiang Ground-jay (Podoces biddulphi). The two are sometimes united in a separate genus, Eupodoces, differing from other two members of genus in having black on crown, relatively long uppertail-coverts and dark legs, and lacking blackish breast patch.