Central and eastern Brazil, south of Amazon (from R Madeira east to Maranhío and northern Ceará), south to eastern Bolivia (R Mamoré, eastern Beni and north-eastern Santa Cruz) and central Mato Grosso, there reaching tributaries of upper R Paraguay.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Gould's Toucanet (Selenidera gouldii) [XC482116]
by Ciro Albano from Cujubim, Rond\u00f4nia, Brazil (song)
Gould's Toucanet (Selenidera gouldii) [XC754622]
by JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA from Sinop, Cascalheiras - Mato Grosso, Brazil (call)
Subspecies
Probably forms a superspecies with Tawny-tufted Toucanet (Selenidera nattereri), Red-billed Toucanet (Selenidera reinwardtii) and Spot-billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris). Guianan Toucanet (Selenidera piperivora) and Yellow-eared Toucanet (Selenidera spectabilis) have sometimes been included too, but these two appear to differ from others in voice and display behaviour. Closely related to Spot-billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris), and may be conspecific, as sometimes treated. Populations named as subspecies hellmayri (north-central Brazil) and baturitensis (north-eastern Brazil) appear to represent clinal variation of trivial nature, size decreasing eastwards; either or both of these sometimes placed in Spot-billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris).