Andes of southern Peru (Puno), Bolivia (La Paz, Cochabamba, sight records also from Tarija) and north-western Argentina (Sierra de Aconquija, in Tucumán and north-central Catamarca).
 
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).
Scribble-tailed Canastero (Asthenes maculicauda) [XC219146]
by Guy Kirwan from Manu Andean Slope, Cuzco, Peru (song)
Scribble-tailed Canastero (Asthenes maculicauda) [XC350973]
by id from Pongo, La Paz Department, Bolivia (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Plumage pattern and biogeography indicate that this species is most closely related to Many-striped Canastero (Asthenes flammulata) and Junin Canastero (Asthenes virgata). Probably part of the superspecies formed by those. Disjunct population in Argentina may represent an undescribed subspecies.