The Beautiful Jay is distributed on the Pacific slope of the Andes (Chocó) from central Colombia to north-west Ecuador. See the distribution map at NatureServe.

It is classified as Near Threatened by Birdlife International given the threat to its habitat from logging. It is found in humid subtropical forest and cloud forest at between 900 and 2,300 metres. These photos were taken in fairly heavy mist.

It forages singly and in pairs and is generally in the understorey at lower levels than other jays.