Eastern Brazil (southern from southern Bahia and eastern Goiás) south to eastern Paraguay, north-eastern Argentina (Misiones, Corrientes) and Rio Grande do Sul.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus) [XC791805]
by Eduardo Patrial from Parque Nacional Iguazu: Sendero Macuco, Argentina (drumming)
Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus) [XC440191]
by Rosendo Manuel Fraga from Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil (call)
Subspecies
Formerly placed in genus Phloeoceastes with seven other species, all of which are now lumped into Campephilus. Size of present species increases slightly from north to south, but insufficient to warrant separation of any geographical subspecies.