Central China in eastern and southern Qinghai (Daban Shan south to Amdo Plateau and upper R Hwang He, and Nangqen area), extreme south-western Gansu (region south-west of Xiahe and Minxian), north, central and western Sichuan (Songpan region, Qionglai Shan and around Litang) and extreme north-eastern Xizang (north-east of Qamdo); also, separately, in south-eastern Xizang (Kongbo, in Tsangpo valley) and central Yunnan (Kunming).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2012).
Przevalski's Nuthatch (Sitta przewalskii) [XC191270]
by Liao Xiao-dong from Beishan National Forest Park, Haidong, Qinghai, China (call)
Przevalski's Nuthatch (Sitta przewalskii) [XC285245]
by Peter Boesman from northeast of Balangshan Pass, c3800m, Sichuan, China (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Forms a superspecies with White-cheeked Nuthatch (Sitta leucopsis) and until recently treated as conspecific, but separated on basis of significant morphological and vocal differences.