Habitat
Premontane and montane evergreen forest, primarily on low, outlying ridges, but also altered habitats as long as forest patches and thickets of secondary growth remain. From 400 - 1,500 m.
Southern Colombia (western Putumayo) through eastern Ecuador to north-eastern Peru (San Martín).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation due to intense pressure from agriculture and cattle pasture, low-intensity farming, tea and coffee growing, mining operations and logging, is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Ecuadorian Piedtail (Phlogophilus hemileucurus) [XC364163]
by Ottavio Janni from Zamora-Chinchipe: R\u00edo Bombuscaro, Ecuador (call, calls)
Ecuadorian Piedtail (Phlogophilus hemileucurus) [XC251353]
by Paul Coopmans from Napo: Napo Galeras, Ecuador (call)
Subspecies
Has occasionally been placed in genus Adelomyia but more information required to permit accurate assessment of most appropriate generic placement. Forms a superspecies with Peruvian Piedtail (Phlogophilus harterti).