The Spotted Dikkop is found in open flat habitats in southern Africa. It is generally sedentary; however birds from high rainfall areas, such as Zimbabwe, emigrate during the summer rains, and it is likely that these move to areas such as the central Kalahari basin.

Spotted Dikkop start breeding in August and the last chicks may fledge in May. In addition, a pair may have more than one successful breeding attempt, some have been recoreded rearing chicks successfully from four different nests. If nests or chicks are lost, further attempts to breed may occur. They lay two eggs in a scrape in the sand, lined with vegetation. Nests are usually in the open under or near tall trees. The eggs take about a month to hatch and the chicks between five and six weeks to fledge.