Coastal mountains of western and south-western Ecuador (south-western Manabí and western Guayas, and El Oro and Loja) and immediately adjacent north-western Peru (Tumbes, presumably also Piura).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Watkins's Antpitta (Grallaria watkinsi) [XC275055]
by Hans Matheve from Loja: Celica-Macar\u00e1 road, Ecuador (call, calls)
Watkins's Antpitta (Grallaria watkinsi) [XC593887]
by Peter de Rouw from Via Achima\/Los Corrales, near Reserva Jorupe (sharp S-curve), Macara, Loja, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
Was for many years treated as a subspecies of Chestnut-crowned Antpitta (Grallaria ruficapilla), but differs markedly in voice, plumage, bare-part colors and habitat, and no intermediate specimens or songs known from area of range overlap in south-western Ecuador. Exact location of type locality uncertain, and originally said to be in Piura (Peru) but subsequently considered more likely to be located in Ecuador.