Western Venezuela (Táchira), and Andes from Colombia (patchily western and central Andes, including both slopes in Nariño, head of Magdalena Valley in Huila; spottily on entire eastern slope of eastern Andes) southern on western slope to extreme north-western Ecuador (Carchi), and throughout eastern slope of Ecuador south to central Peru (Junín and northern Ayacucho).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Rufous-crested Tanager (Creurgops verticalis) [XC47853]
by John V. Moore from ACP Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva, San Mart\u00edn, Peru (call)
Rufous-crested Tanager (Creurgops verticalis) [XC261216]
by Mitch Lysinger from Napo: 'Caba\u00f1as San Isidro', 1-2 km SW Cosanga, Ecuador (flight call, feeding and flight calls)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Forms a superspecies with Slaty Tanager (Creurgops dentatus).