The heaviest woodcreeper, the Strong-billed Woodcreeper is widely distributed from Mexico through Central America to the Andes of South America, the mountains of northern Venezuela, the Amazon Basin and the Guianas. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

It is found in a variety of forest habitats foraging for insects from the understorey to the sub-canopy.

There are about 25 sub-species of which this is X. p. sanctaemartae.