Surinam, French Guiana, and northern Brazil (from lower R Negro at Manaus eastern almost to R Tapajós; also recorded south of Amazon on R Urucu, in central Amazonas); one sight record from Venezuela (lower R Caura, in northern Bolívar).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Glossy-backed Becard (Pachyramphus surinamus) [XC456365]
by Alexandre GRAVE from 'piste Armontabo', piste de Saut Maripa, Saint-Georges, French Guiana (call)
Glossy-backed Becard (Pachyramphus surinamus) [XC632395]
by Kenny U\u00e9slei from Passoura, Kourou, French Guiana (call)
Subspecies
Genus formerly included with Tityra in the Cotingidae, but transferred to present family because of several shared, derived features of the skull and syrinx. Because both genera exhibit similarity to cotingids in many other features, some authors prefer to leave them in that family or to treat them as representing a separate family (Tityridae). Phylogenetic affinity of present species unknown.