Angola, Burundi, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania [United Republic of], Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Southern Ethiopia and southern Sudan to southern Somalia, south through eastern Africa (west to eastern Rwanda and eastern Burundi), and from central Angola east to eastern Zaire and western Tanzania, south to Zambia, eastern Zimbabwe and eastern Cape Province.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Scaly-throated Honeyguide (Indicator variegatus) [XC280363]
by Hans Matheve from Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa (song)
Scaly-throated Honeyguide (Indicator variegatus) [XC280362]
by Guido O. Keijl from Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa (song)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Spotted Honeyguide (Indicator maculatus), barely overlapping with it in south-western Sudan and western Uganda. Despite widespread distribution, exhibits mosaic geographical pattern of variation, as well as varying individually, seasonally and with age, rendering accurate racial subdivision impossible for present. Birds from southern Somalia to north-eastern Tanzania formerly separated in subspecies jubaensis.