The Small Pale-browed Treehunter is a Brazilian endemic found in the Atlantic Rain forest of south east Brazil. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is usually seen searching for insects amongst the leaves of bromeliads.

Some authorities lump it as Pale-browed Treehunter Cichlocolaptes leucophrus holti but the HBW and Birdlife International checklist split it given its darker tail, blacker feathers in crown, more olive back and smaller size.