A geographically restricted species to eastern Panamá, Colombia and western Venezuela, it is the most common parrotlet in the Cauca & Magdalena Valleys between 200 -1800m and occasionally even higher. A popular cage bird, feeds on small seeds of weeds and grasses, small berries and fruits, in pairs or flocks, usually noisy and very active.

Can be seen in a plural number of localities, including Cameguadua marsh in Chinchiná (Caldas).