Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela.
Eastern Panama, through northern and eastern Colombia, to west, northern and south-eastern Venezuela and Surinam; also south through Amazonian Brazil to eastern Peru and northern Bolivia (Beni); limits of range poorly documented, in part due to confusion with R. sociabilis.
 
Population
Estimated population is 1,000 - 10,000 (2010).
Slender-billed Kite (Helicolestes hamatus) [XC274914]
by GABRIEL LEITE from Orellana: 'Maxus' road km 37 (27 km SSE Pompeya), Ecuador (call, display calls)
Slender-billed Kite (Helicolestes hamatus) [XC777375]
by id from Guatemala, French Guiana, French Guiana (call)