A common Tanager from open and disturbed areas in central Colombia and north-western Ecuador. In Colombia it has a wide distribution in both inter-Andean Valleys (Cauca & Magdalena Valleys), Dagua & Patía Valleys.

By some, regarded as a sub-race of the widely distributed Burnished-buff Tanager (T. cayana) from the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay.