North-western Venezuela (Sierra de Perijá, Mérida) and Andes of Colombia, eastern Ecuador and Peru (Cajamarca and San Martín south, locally, to Puno).
 
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Variegated Bristle Tyrant (Pogonotriccus poecilotis) [XC86201]
by Oscar Humberto Marin-Gomez from Santa Cecilia track, above Paquisha, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador (dawn song)
Variegated Bristle Tyrant (Pogonotriccus poecilotis) [XC442517]
by Jerome Fischer from Santuario de Flora y Fauna Ot\u00fan-Quimbaya, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Birds from extreme north-western Venezuela (Sierra de Perijá) described as subspecies pifanoi, supposedly with somewhat more blackish crown, but this difference virtually imperceptible and may represent individual variation.