The Southern Rufous-capped Antshrike is distributed on the eastern flanks of the Andes from southern Bolivia to northwest Argentina as well as in south-east Brazil and adjacent areas of Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

It is found in forest edges and in more open and scrubby areas. It does not seem to join mixed flocks and is usually alone or in pairs foraging for insects and occasional fruit fairly close to the ground.

There is a fairly wide variety of plumage. These photos are of the nominate sub-species.