Andes of Chile from Antofagasta southern at least to Araucania region, also in Magallanes (Sierra Baguales), and Argentina from at least Mendoza (probably farther north) south to Santa Cruz (Sierra Baguales).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Greater Yellow Finch (Sicalis auriventris) [XC60223]
by Alvaro Jaramillo from Farallones, Region Metropolitana, Chile (song)
Greater Yellow Finch (Sicalis auriventris) [XC343557]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from Cerro Curamalal (Serran\u00edas de Ventania), Pdo. Saavedra, Pcia. Buenos Aires, Argentina (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Molecular-genetic data suggest that genus is most closely related to the "hooded" group of sierra-finches (Black-hooded Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus atriceps), Peruvian Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus punensis), Grey-hooded Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus gayi) and Patagonian Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus patagonicus)). Also, that it belongs within the tanager family (Thraupidae). What originally appeared to be an isolated population of Patagonian Yellow-Finch (Sicalis lebruni) was recently discovered in east-central Argentina, in Sierra de la Ventana (southern Buenos Aires). Later suggested to be some form of present species. However, nesting habits are quite different from both species. Further investigation is needed.