New Guinea, in two disjunct populations: in western in Vogelkop Peninsula (east to Geelvink and Etna Bays), and in north-eastern from Adelbert Mts east to Huon Peninsula and south to upper R Watut and Bulolo Valley.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera nympha) [XC266903]
by JACOB Herv\u00e9 from Keki Lodge area, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea (song)
Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera nympha) [XC498938]
by Frank Lambert from near Malagufuk, Klasow Valley, Sorong, Papua Barat, Indonesia (song)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Brown-headed Paradise-kingfisher (Tanysiptera danae). Proposed subspecies rothschildi (Huon Peninsula) now considered invalid.