Breeds on eastern slope of Andes in southern Bolivia (southern from western Santa Cruz) and north-western Argentina. Winters in lowlands north to northern Venezuela.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Slaty Elaenia (Elaenia strepera) [XC447970]
by Rosendo Manuel Fraga from Quebrada del Gallinato, La Caldera, Salta, -24.40, -65.20, Argentina (call, song)
Slaty Elaenia (Elaenia strepera) [XC139240]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from A 2 km al W de El Monolito, l\u00edmite del PN Calilegua, Jujuy, Argentina (song)
Subspecies
No obvious close relatives within genus.