South-eastern Brazil (southern Espírito Santo south to Paraná and northern Rio Grande do Sul), eastern Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina (Misiones).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.
Status LC
Habitat destruction and degradation through urbanisation, industrialisation, agricultural expansion, colonisation and associated road-building, is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Blackish-blue Seedeater (Amaurospiza moesta) [XC599039]
by Bobby Wilcox from Libertador General San Mart\u00edn Department, Misiones, Misiones Province, Argentina (song)
Blackish-blue Seedeater (Amaurospiza moesta) [XC722028]
by JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA from Santa Rita do Novo Destino, Goi\u00e1s, Ch\u00e1cara Jayrson, Brazil (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Molecular data indicate that genus may belong in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae), rather than in present one.