It inhabits semi-open areas of French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. Unlike other members of the genus Ramphastos, it is essentially a non-forest species. It can be found in a variety of habitats; these are mainly sparse forests (it avoids dense forests), savannas and steppes.
It is primarily a lowland species, but is found as high as 1,750 meters near the Andes in Bolivia.
