The Chevron-breasted Babbler is a scarce species with a quite restricted range. It occurs in Northeast India from Eeast Arunachal Pradesh (Mishmi Hills) South to Assam (North Cachar), Nagaland and North Manipur; North Myanmar and adjacent South China (NW Yunnan). The species is found at elevations of at 300–2010 metres above sealevel. In the Khonoma Hills, we found the bird in typical 'wren-babbler habitat', again consisting of a forested rocky riverbed or ravine with a lush vegetation of vines and dense undergrowth. The species habitat is described as evergreen forest with large trees and bamboo on the edge of dense jungle.

The 'Wedge-billed Wren-babbler' has recently undergone some taxonomic changes: previously the species was considered as a Wren-babbler species. Then the species was split into an Eastern and a Western race. Nowadays both species (Chevron-breasted Babbler and Blackish-breasted Babbler) have been classified as babblers, closely related to wren-babblers.