Western and north-eastern peninsular India, Bangladesh; and from south-west, southern and eastern Myanmar, and southern Annam, south to southern Thailand, Cambodia, and Cochinchina.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Heart-spotted Woodpecker (Hemicircus canente) [XC399547]
by Mike Dooher from Kaeng Krachen National Park, Khao Pakarang, KM 7-12, Phetchaburi, Thailand (call)
Heart-spotted Woodpecker (Hemicircus canente) [XC206611]
by Prateik Kulkarni from Yeoor hills, Thane, Maharashtra, India (call, drumming)
Subspecies
Clinal increase in size from south-west to north-eastern India, but differences negligible. Individual variation fairly marked, but no significant geographical pattern and therefore proposed subspecies cordatus (western India) is unsustainable.