Breeds from central Chile and central Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego. Winters northern Chile, southern and eastern Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, south-eastern Brazil and Uruguay.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Austral Negrito (Lessonia rufa) [XC415902]
by Bobby Wilcox from Laguna LA4, Meseta Buenos Aires, Santa Cruz, Argentina (begging call, call)
Austral Negrito (Lessonia rufa) [XC17313]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from Wetland Batuco, Batuco, Regi\u00f3n Metropolitana, Chile (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Genus considered closely related to Knipolegus and allies on basis of external and internal morphology. Formerly treated as conspecific with Andean Negrito (Lessonia oreas).