Locally in extreme south-western Venezuela (Táchira), eastern and central Andes of Colombia (southern Antioquia and Cundinamarca south to western Caquetá), eastern Andes of Ecuador and extreme northern Peru (Cerro Chinguela, in Piura).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Rufous-breasted Flycatcher (Leptopogon rufipectus) [XC317915]
by Ross Gallardy from Parque Chicaque, Cundinamarca, Colombia (call)
Rufous-breasted Flycatcher (Leptopogon rufipectus) [XC251060]
by John V. Moore from Zamora-Chinchipe: Reserva Tapichalaca, near Q. Cristopher Parson, Ecuador (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Forms a superspecies with Inca Flycatcher (Leptopogon taczanowskii). Birds from extreme north-east of range described as subspecies venezuelanus, but indistinguishable from populations farther southern along Colombian Andes.