The Yellow-legged Thrush is distributed in south-east Brazil, south-east Paraguay and north-east Argentina with disjunct populations in north-east Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Trinidad.

It is found in forest borders and woodland where it eats mainly fruit and only rarely is seen on the ground.

Above, the male has a black hood, wings and tail and is otherwise slate-grey. The bill, eye-ring and legs are yellow. The female is dark brown above, paler below and with a dull yellow bill.