The White-throated Spadebill is usually found at high altitudes (600 to 2,000 metres) throughout most of its range in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela and Brazil. In south-east Brazil it can be found in the lowlands.

There are several subspecies and the one found in south-east and east Brazil, P. m. cancromus , has a pale lower mandible, yellow tinges to the throat and more ochraceous colouring on the breast and belly.

There are recordings on xeno-canto, a distribution map from NatureServe and additional information available via Avibase.