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) [XC261218]
by Jonas Nilsson from Napo: upper Cordillera de los Huacamayos, Ecuador (begging call, begging calls)
Rufous-crested Tanager (Creurgops verticalis) [XC261215]
by Mitch Lysinger from Napo: upper Cordillera de los Huacamayos, Ecuador (call, excited calls)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Forms a superspecies with Slaty Tanager (Creurgops dentatus).