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

The male's crown is glossy copper or purplish and the rest of the upper parts are emerald green.

[4] Both subspecies of yellow-billed jacamar occur east of the Andes and north of the Amazon River.

G. a. chalcocephala is found along the upper Orinoco River in southern Venezuela south through southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and western Brazil to northeastern Peru.

Unlike may other jacamars, it is found primarily in the forest interior rather than its edges, but does frequent openings like clearings and treefalls.

In general, G. a. chalcocephala has similar requirements, but in Ecuador and Peru it seems to occur only in terra firme forest.

It perches on exposed branches in the canopy, typically in pairs, and sallies from there to catch its flying prey.