The Plum-throated Cotinga is distributed in western Amazonia. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is found in the canopy and borders of lowland forest especially seasonally-flooded várzea particularly along rivers. This is unlike the similar Spangled Cotinga C. cayana which is largely restricted to terra firme forest.

It is not very vocal and, indeed, there are few recordings but one is by my good friend, Edson Endrigo.