Andes in western Venezuela (southern Táchira), Colombia (western range in Antioquia, central range south to Nariño, and eastern range in Cundinamarca), Ecuador (eastern slope in Carchi, Napo and Zamora-Chinchipe) and northern Peru (Piura, near Piuraâ€"Cajamarca border).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Black-headed Hemispingus (Pseudospingus verticalis) [XC242720]
by Niels Krabbe from Loja: p\u00e1ramo of Cordillera Las Lagunillas, Ecuador (call, song, twitter song, calls)
Black-headed Hemispingus (Pseudospingus verticalis) [XC12517]
by Andrew Spencer from PNN Chingaza, sector Palacio, Colombia (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Genus has been thought to belong with New World warblers (Parulidae), but recent molecular-genetic data support placement in present family. The monophyly of genus questioned. It is supported by some molecular data, but other molecular data equivocal. Forms a superspecies with Drab Hemispingus (Pseudospingus xanthophthalmus), both formerly placed in separate genus, Pseudospingus.