The Regent Honeyeater is distributed in south-east Australia but is now restricted mainly to the tablelands of the Great Divide. It is classified as Critically Endangered by Birdlife International because of the recent rapid decline in its population due to drought and loss of habitat. This ringed bird was flying in a large aviary at Cleland Wildlife Park near Adelaide.

It is now regarded as a near relative of the Wattlebirds and is placed in the same genus Anthochaera.