South-eastern Brazil (northern Mato Grosso do Sul east to extreme south-eastern Bahia, south to central Rio Grande do Sul), eastern Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina (Misiones and northern Corrientes).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus) [XC504817]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from Anhembi, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil (song)
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus) [XC551867]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from Forestal Belga (Cruce Caballero), San Pedro, Misiones, Argentina (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Recent molecular-genetic data indicate that this species and White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus) are sister-species, and that Red-shouldered Tanager (Tachyphonus phoenicius) is sister to both of these.