South-eastern Brazil (southern Minas Gerais, southern Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro south to eastern and southern Paraná, Santa Catarina and northern Rio Grande do Sul), south-eastern Paraguay (Alto Paraná, Caazapá, eastern Paraguarí, Itapuá) and north-eastern Argentina (Misiones).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Dusky-tailed Antbird (Drymophila malura) [XC550571]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from Forestal Belga (Cruce Caballero), San Pedro, Misiones, Argentina (song)
Dusky-tailed Antbird (Drymophila malura) [XC427322]
by Caio Brito from PE Intervales, Ribeirao Grande-SP, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil (canto)
Subspecies
Members of genus form a well-defined clade, and appear to be closely related to Hypocnemis.