It is endemic to the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola; it is possibly extirpated in Haiti.

As of 2020, it had possibly been extirpated from mainland Haiti and definitely from Gonâve Island, and was known to nest in only two areas of the Dominican Republic.

One is on the northern slope of Sierra de Bahoruco in Independencia Province where it is present in two protected areas.

The other is in Nalga de Maco National Park on the lower southern slope of the Cordillera Central.

It is found in several forest types, but mostly in the narrow transition zone between dry and moist areas.

[5] The bay-breasted cuckoo has a varied diet that includes adult insects, caterpillars, grubs, lizards, and mice.

The shrinking of its range and population are attributed to deforestation for agriculture and charcoal production, degradation of habitat by grazing, subsistence hunting, and possibly agrochemical use.

Climate change is expected to alter the areas' moisture regimes and both natural and human-caused fires are believed to be more likely in the future.