Extreme southern Surinam through CN, eastern and central Brazil (Amapá; Maranhío to Alagoas and Bahia south to Sío Paulo and west to western Mato Grosso, irregularly to Rondônia) to eastern Bolivia (Santa Cruz); also reported from Acre (extreme western Brazil).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) [XC85166]
by Jeremy Minns from Guin\u00e9, Bahia, Brazil (sounds of agonistic encounter)
Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) [XC741119]
by id from Santa Rita do Novo Destino, Goi\u00e1s, Ch\u00e1cara Jayrson, Brazil (flight call, song)
Subspecies
Species of uncertain systematic position. External morphology and behaviour indicate close affinities with Heliothryx and Loddigesia. Species name has normally been given as Heliactin cornuta, but bilopha has priority by one year.