South-eastern Colombia (Vaupés, eastern Caquetá, northern Amazonas) and adjacent western Brazil (eastern along R Uaupés and south, west of R Negro, to Jaú and lower R Japurá).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Chestnut-crested Antbird (Rhegmatorhina cristata) [XC505832]
by Alexander Schlatmann from S\u00e3o Gabriel da Cachoeira, State of Amazonas, Brazil (song)
Chestnut-crested Antbird (Rhegmatorhina cristata) [XC80969]
by Hans Matheve from Mitu, Vaupes, Colombia (call, song)
Subspecies
May prove to be a member of an obligate ant-following clade. This and other members of genus form a well-defined species group.