Andes of western Venezuela (Táchira), and locally in eastern range in Colombia, eastern Ecuador (one record from western slope) and northern Peru (south to Huánuco).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus minor) [XC276164]
by Mauricio \u00c1lvarez-Rebolledo (Colecci\u00f3n de Sonidos Ambientales - Instituto Humboldt) from Napo: pass of Cord. de los Guacamayos, Ecuador (call, calls)
Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus minor) [XC248940]
by Niels Krabbe from Napo: pass of Cord. de los Guacamayos, Ecuador (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Genus as presently constituted is probably polyphyletic, and in need of further study. Syringeal characters suggest that present species and Rufous-winged Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus calopterus) are possibly related to Phyllomyias, specifically to Tyranniscus if latter resurrected.