Breeds in south-eastern Alaska and western Canada (south-western Yukon and north-western and south-eastern British Columbia and western Alberta) and northern USA (western Montana). Non-breeding range south-western USA (Arizona east to western Texas) and probably northern Mexico.
Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) and Timberline Sparrow (Spizella taverneri) (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) have been lumped into Spizella breweri following AOU (1998).
Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri).