South-eastern Bolivia (eastern Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca and Tarija), western Paraguay (west of R Paraguay), northern Argentina east of foothills (south to central Mendoza, southern San Luis, southern Córdoba and southern Santa Fe, and from central Formosa and central Chaco south to southern Corrientes and Entre Ríos) and north-western Uruguay.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Many-colored Chaco Finch (Saltatricula multicolor) [XC272918]
by Niels Krabbe from San Jose de las Salinas, C\u00f3rdoba, Argentina (song)
Many-colored Chaco Finch (Saltatricula multicolor) [XC50750]
by Dan Lane from Guasayan, Santiago del Estero, Argentina (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Molecular data indicate that genus is more closely related to the tanagers (Thraupidae) than to members of present family. Furthermore, this species was found to be embedded within genus Saltator, as sister-species of Black-throated Saltator (Saltator atricollis), with the Saltator clade sister to all other Thraupidae. Further research required.