South-western Ecuador (south-western Manabí, western Guayas, also rarely southern Loja and southern El Oro), and coastal slope of Peru from Tumbes south to Arequipa.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Collared Warbling Finch (Poospiza hispaniolensis) [XC31389]
by Niels Krabbe from Isla de la Plata, PN Machalilla, Ecuador (song)
Collared Warbling Finch (Poospiza hispaniolensis) [XC264888]
by Paul Coopmans from Loja: 26 km S Cariamanga, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
New molecular data indicate that genus forms a clade with the tanager (Thraupidae) genera Hemispingus and Thlypopsis, and that Compsospiza, which often subsumed within this genus, is sister to that clade. A recent molecular-genetic study suggested that this species is rather distantly related to very similar-looking Ringed Warbling-Finch (Microspingus torquatus). Found to have a basal position in genus in some analyses, and in a clade with Cinnamon Warbling-Finch (Poospiza ornata) and Bolivian Warbling-Finch (Poospiza boliviana) in other analyses. More work is required in order to determine correct placement of this warbling-finch, and if similarity to Ringed Warbling-Finch (Microspingus torquatus) is due to convergence.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet