North-central Bolivia (Cochabamba, Santa Cruz) and western and central Paraguay to north-central Argentina (south to La Rioja, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Corrientes), northern Uruguay and south-eastern Brazil (western Rio Grande do Sul).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Cream-backed Woodpecker (Campephilus leucopogon) [XC29092]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from Jujuy: 4 km WNW monolith in PN Calilegua, Argentina (chatter and wingflutter pair)
Cream-backed Woodpecker (Campephilus leucopogon) [XC29093]
by id from Jujuy: 6.3 km NW of El Bananal, Argentina (call, wing flutter)
Subspecies
Formerly placed in genus Phloeoceastes with seven other species, all of which are now lumped into Campephilus.