The Southern Black Flycatchers (Melaenornis pammelaina) occur naturally in Africa. Several races have been identified:
Southern Black-Flycatchers (Melaenornis pammelaina pammelaina – Stanley, 1814) – Nominate form
Range: Southern Tanzania to southeastern Malawi and Mozambique north of Sul do Save
Southern Black-Flycatcher (ater) (Melaenornis pammelaina ater – Sundevall, 1850)
Range: Southeastern Botswana to Malawi, eastern Zimbabwe, Mozambique, eastern parts of South Africa
Southern Black-Flycatcher (diabolicus) (Melaenornis pammelaina diabolicus – Sharpe, 1877)
Range: Southern Angola to northern Namibia and northwestern Botswana
East African Black Flycatcher, Southern Black-Flycatcher (East African) (Melaenornis pammelaina tropicalis – Cabanis, 1884)
Range: Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and western Tanzania
Southern Black-Flycatcher (poliogygna) (Melaenornis pammelaina poliogygna – Lawson, 1964)
Range: Angola to the Caprivi Strip, Zimbabwe, northwestern Malawi and southwestern Tanzania
