The Black-chested Tyrant is distributed in north-east and east-central Venezuela, the extreme north of Brazil in Roraima and in scattered sites in Pará and Maranhão. It is found in the dense, viny understorey of humid forest particularly near rivers or, near the coast, in mangroves. However, this bird was seen at quite a distance from a river in dense undergrowth on a fairly steep slope. Their habitat makes them difficult to see.