Spilornis kinabaluensis is a large raptor with a very localized distribution, probably indicating that it must have a small population and be sensitive to minor degradations of its habitat.
Spilornis kinabaluensis is known only from montane forest above 1,600 m (occasionally down to 1,000 m) on Gunong Kinabalu and Gunong Trus Madi in Sabah, and Gunong Mulu and Gunong Murad in Sarawak, East Malaysia, and Bukit Tudal, Brunei.
The IUCN categorises Spilornis kinabaluensis as "Data Deficient". CITES lists the species as "Appendix 2".