The Turquoise-browed Motmot is distributed in the northern half of the Yucatán Peninsula and from southern Mexico to north-west Costa Rica. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is found in woodland and on the edges of woodland as well as semi-open areas. This bird was at the edge of the Plaza Major at Copan Ruinas, Honduras.

It is distinguished by its extremely long central tail feathers with racquet tips and its pale turquoise blue eyebrows.