It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

It differs from all other entirely black birds with dark irises within its range, by having a large white, chisel-shaped, sharply-pointed beak.

Its diet consists of invertebrates and small vertebrates such as tree frogs, and it also consumes fruit and nectar.

Breeding takes place between October and January according to location and in Argentina it is thought that two broods are reared.

[3] The solitary cacique has an extremely large range, its area of occupancy being estimated as 8,790,000 km2 (3,400,000 sq mi).