ðə splˈɛndɪd æstɹˈeɪpiə, lˈaɪk mˈoʊst ˈʌðɚ pˈæɹədˌɪsiːˌɪdz, ɪz nˈeɪɾɪv tə mˈɪd ænd ˌʌpɚ mˈɔnteɪn ænd sˈʌbɐlpˌaɪn tɹˈɑːpɪkəl fˈɔːɹɪsts, fˈɔːɹɪst ˈɛdʒᵻz ænd sˈɛkəndɚɹi ɡɹˈoʊθ; wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti θɹˈiː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti ˈɛm, mˈeɪnli tˈuː θˈaʊzənd wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd dˈæʃ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd ˈɛm. ɪts dˌɪstɹɪbjˈuːʃən ɪz lˈɑːɹdʒli kənfˈaɪnd tə ðə sˈɛntɹəl ænd wˈɛstɚn hˈaɪləndz ʌv nˈuː ɡˈɪni, wɪððə nˈɑːmᵻnˌeɪt ɹˈeɪs splˈɛndɪdˌɪsɪmə bˌiːɪŋ fˈaʊnd fɹʌmðə wˈeɪlænd mˈaʊntɪnz tə ðə pˈeɪnɪˌaɪ lˈeɪks, ænd ɹˈeɪs hˈɛlɪˌoʊz nˈeɪɾɪv fˈaʊnd ˈiːst ʌvðə pˈeɪnɪˌaɪ lˈeɪks tə ðə hˈɪndənbˌɜːɡ ɹˈeɪndʒ, ænd pˈɑːsᵻbli tə ðə vˈɪktɚɹ ɪmˈænuːl ɹˈeɪndʒ.
The Splendid astrapia, like most other Paradisaeids, is native to mid and upper montane and subalpine tropical forests, forest edges and secondary growth; 1750–3450 m, mainly 2100-2700m. Its distribution is largely confined to the central and western highlands of New Guinea, with the nominate race splendidissima being found from the Weyland Mountains to the Paniai Lakes, and race helios'' native found east of the Paniai Lakes to the Hindenburg Range, and possibly to the Victor Emanuel Range.