It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

[4] The brown jacamar has seven subspecies:[2] Three of them (fulviventris, phaeonota, and melanosterna) were at one time treated as separate species.

The brown jacamar is found in three unconnected areas in northern South America east of the Andes.

The details are:[3] The brown jacamar primarily inhabits terra firme, várzea, and gallery forests, both primary and secondary.

[1] It is uncommon to common in various parts of its range, occurs in several protected areas, and "its habitat requirements suggest that selective logging would not be a threat."