Virtually the whole island of Tenerife and Gran Canaria (except on the East and South coast).

It is an eminently forest bird, occupying mainly areas of fayal-heath and monteverde. It is common in mixed pine forests with well-developed monteverde with understory, and has also been perfectly established in many forests of chestnut and pine trees. Outside of the forest it can be seen occasionally over the limit of the pines, but it is usual its presence in crops bordering forest areas, and even in ravines of the basal floor where the vegetation is somewhat exuberant. The nest is located in branches of shrubs as well as banana trees, hollows of logs, walls, edges of tracks and even on the ground, sometimes in holes of windows and doors of houses, and even in water heaters. After reproduction, some individuals, especially juveniles, leave the forest for crops or high mountain areas. (Martín & Lorenzo, 2001)