Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Côte dIvoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda.
Vagrant to Togo.
Broken range from southern Guinea to north-western Gabon and coastal and central Congo, then through north-western and eastern Zaire and southern Central African Republic to western Uganda; isolated population in western Kenya.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Sabine's Spinetail (Rhaphidura sabini) [XC776659]
by Wendy James from Grand Hotel Djibloho, Ciudad de la Paz, Wele-Nzas, Equatorial Guinea, Equatorial Guinea (call)
Sabine's Spinetail (Rhaphidura sabini) [XC620058]
by id from Budongo forest, Royal Mile, Bujenje (near Masindi), Masindi, Western Region, Uganda (alarm call)
Subspecies
Genus formerly merged into Chaetura. Has been considered possibly conspecific with Sao Tome Spinetail (Zoonavena thomensis), but this view has not gained support and is contradicted by considerable dissimilarities. Birds of R Ogowe (Gabon) previously recognized as subspecies ogowensis, by virtue of alleged smaller size.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet