South-eastern Costa Rica (Limón), Panama (Caribbean slope, also Pacific slope in extreme eastern Panamá and Darién), western Colombia (Pacific slope, and lower Cauca Valley in Antioquia) and north-western Ecuador (south to Los Ríos and Manabí).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Spot-crowned Antvireo (Dysithamnus puncticeps) [XC120674]
by Niels Krabbe from Playa de Oro, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador, Ecuador (call, song)
Spot-crowned Antvireo (Dysithamnus) [XC271235]
by Nick Athanas from Ibe Igar trail, Nusagandi, Panama (song)
Subspecies
Relationships of genus not clearly established. Preliminary molecular evidence suggests affiliation with Thamnophilus, and morphological characteristics have connected it with Thamnomanes. Appears to form a monophyletic group with Spot-breasted Antvireo (Dysithamnus stictothorax), Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis), Streak-crowned Antvireo (Dysithamnus striaticeps) and Rufous-backed Antvireo (Dysithamnus xanthopterus) to which other species placed in the genus are probably closely related. Birds from southern Panama and western Colombia described as subspecies intensus and others from south-western Colombia and western Ecuador as flemmingi on basis of darkness of plumage, but apparently intergrade broadly with each other and with other populations. Racial subdivision considered unwarranted.