This hawker is endemic to southern Africa; it is common in much of southern and eastern South Africa, and is also found in parts of Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Pinheyschna subpupillata is similar to Zosteraeschna minuscula and Zosteraeschna usambarica, but the latter species have browner abdomens, and long green dorsal stripes on the thorax. The black marking on the upper frons of Zosteraeschna minuscula is shaped like an anchor, and that of Zosteraeschna usambarica like a pentagon, rather than the rounded spot of the stream hawker. Pinheyschna subpupillata males also differ in having secondary gentilia that project conspicuously from the second segment of the abdomen, and lack the blue saddle of Zosteraeschna males.