The Rock Nuthatch is distributed in the Balkans along the Adriatic coast, in Greece, Bulgaria, the Caucasus, Turkey and south to Israel. It is found on mountains and hills, mainly limestone, in dry, scrubby vegetation.

Compared to the Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea, it has a slightly longer bill and is a paler reddish-buff on the flanks. Habitat and behaviour are good indicators for this species.