Eastern, central and southern Brazil (on both sides of lower Amazon and lower R Tapajós, from Maranhío south-west to southern Mato Grosso, and from Rio Grande do Norte south to western Sío Paulo) and extreme north-eastern Bolivia (Serranía de Huanchaca, in north-eastern Santa Cruz).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin (Neopelma pallescens) [XC415022]
by JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA from Crato, Cear\u00e1, Brazil (call)
Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin (Neopelma pallescens) [XC573084]
by Robson Silva e Silva from Santa Rita do Novo Destino, Goi\u00e1s, Ch\u00e1cara Jayrson, Brazil (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Systematic position of genus doubtful. Possibly closest to Tyranneutes, and both genera almost certainly only distantly related to the typical piprids. Probably closer to the Tyrannidae but traditionally included in present family, where retained pending further study. Considered to form a superspecies with Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin (Neopelma chrysocephalum), Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin (Neopelma sulphureiventer), Wied's Tyrant-Manakin (Neopelma aurifrons) and Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin (Neopelma chrysolophum).