Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela.
Eastern Ecuador, south-eastern Colombia and north-eastern Peru to southern and eastern Venezuela (southern Amazonas, Bolívar) and to central Amazon Valley in Brazil (north to upper R Negro, east to R Tapajós), south to northern Bolivia.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus) [XC270897]
by Jonas Nilsson from Reserva Natural Palmar\u00ed, R\u00edo Javar\u00ed, Amazonas, Brazil (song)
Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus) [XC61538]
by Joseph Tobias and Nathalie Seddon from Yasun\u00ed Research Station, Parque Nacional Yasun\u00ed, Orellana, Ecuador (call)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps), with which may be conspecific. White-tipped Quetzal (Pharomachrus fulgidus) possibly belongs to the same superspecies. Population in the lower Amazon proposed as subspecies viridiceps, but differences appear to be result of individual variation.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
heliactin Cabanis & Heine Sr, 1862 - Subtropical western Ecuador.