Pedionomus torquatus is endemic to Australia. It is found in high densities only in the Riverina region of New South Wales. Here, the population may be as high as 5,500 birds after good years, but can decline to about 1,000 in poor years. In northern Victoria, there are fewer than 500 individuals. In Queensland, low densities occur in the south-west and central areas, but no recent surveys have been completed. It has become effectively extinct in south-west Victoria, south-east South Australia, eastern New South Wales and south-east Queensland. Numbers may vary between less than 2,500 birds after years with lower than average rainfall, to 8,000 birds in good years. The area of occupancy may be as low as 1,000 km^{2 1}.