The Boat-billed Flycatcher is found from Mexico through most of north and central South America as far south as northern Argentina but excluding the Andes above about 1500 ms. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

The main identification feature is, however, the voice which is a distinctive loud grating call and easily distinguished from the well-known call of the Great Kiskadee.

It eats mainly insects such as cicadas and seems to enjoy large spiders.