The Emerald Toucanet is distributed from south-west Mexico through Central America to South America from western Venezuela and Colombia to Peru and northern Bolivia. See the distribution map at Natureserve. It is found in forest and forest edges at between 1,600 and 3,000 metres.

There are about 14 sub-species of which two are shown here. Photo 1 shows A. p. lautus from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This has a mainly black bill with a yellow culmen. Photos 2 to 4 show the sub-species A. p. albivitta with more yellow on the upper mandible and a dull brown patch at the base of the lower mandible. It also has a much whiter throat.

The main vocalisation is a series of barking or honking notes.