Southern Colombia (Caquetá), north-eastern Ecuador (Napo, Sucumbios), eastern Peru (Loreto south to Madre de Dios), south-western Amazonian Brazil (east to R Purus drainage) and north-western Bolivia (Pando, northern La Paz, Beni).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Plumbeous Antbird (Myrmelastes hyperythrus) [XC258532]
by John V. Moore from Sucumb\u00edos: 'Sacha Lodge', n bank R\u00edo Napo, Ecuador (song)
Plumbeous Antbird (Myrmelastes hyperythrus) [XC258535]
by Jonas Nilsson from Sucumb\u00edos: Pa\u00f1acocha, left (n) bank R\u00edo Napo, Ecuador (call)
Subspecies
Genus appears not to represent a monophyletic grouping, but traditional arrangement maintained pending further phylogenetic study. Along with Goeldi's Antbird (Akletos goeldii), White-shouldered Antbird (Akletos melanoceps), Sooty Antbird (Hafferia fortis) and Blue-lored Antbird (Hafferia immaculata) often considered to form a species group on basis of large size, but more work needed in order to confirm a close relationship.