The Three-striped Flycatcher is distributed in 2 main areas. The nominate sub-species is found in the south-east of Brazil and adjacent areas of north-east Argentina and Paraguay. The sub-species C. t. berlepschi, shown here, is found in the Amazon Basin.

It differs from the similar Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis in having no white on the throat and having a different voice. It differs from Yellow-throated Flycatcher C. parvus in being smaller, having a browner crown and having more contrasting wings and back.