The Paramo Tapaculo has been split recently (2010) from the Scytalopus canus (Paramillo Tapaculo), this last taxon now restricted to the northern end of the Western Andes of Colombia (thus becoming and endemic).

Can be seen at stunted forest & timberline in Los Nevados National Park above the city of Manizales in the Central Andes, from where it distributes south in the Andes into Ecuador & Peru.