Eastern and central Brazil (from northern Ceará and Maranhío, also recently Pernambuco, southern in interior to Mato Grosso, northern Sío Paulo and southern Minas Gerais), eastern Bolivia (north-eastern Beni and eastern Santa Cruz) and north-eastern Paraguay.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Black-throated Saltator (Saltatricula atricollis) [XC581037]
by JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA from Agua Fria Road, Chapada dos Guimaraes, Mato Grosso, Brazil (song)
Black-throated Saltator (Saltatricula atricollis) [XC749054]
by Robson Silva e Silva from Pomp\u00e9u, Pomp\u00e9u, Minas Gerais, Brazil (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Affiliations of genus uncertain. Recent molecular-genetic analyses indicate that it does not belong with present family, and may be better placed with tanagers (Thraupidae). Thought to be not closely related to other members of genus, but closer to monotypic emberizid genus Saltatricula. However, recent molecular-genetic studies indicate that it does belong in present genus, and that Saltatricula perhaps better moved to present family.