South-eastern Brazil (extreme south-eastern Bahia and extreme eastern Minas Gerais south to Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul) and extreme north-eastern Argentina (Misiones).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Thick-billed Saltator (Saltator maxillosus) [XC490721]
by id from Bela Vista do Toldo, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil (call)
Thick-billed Saltator (Saltator maxillosus) [XC308653]
by Jeremy Minns from Praia Grande, Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil (call)
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). Closely allied to Black-cowled Saltator (Saltator nigriceps) and Golden-billed Saltator (Saltator aurantiirostris) and interbreeding with latter has been reported, but recent studies state that there is little or no interbreeding.