Locally in all three ranges of Andes in Colombia, and on eastern slope (from Nariño and Putumayo) south through Ecuador (locally also on western slope south to Pichincha) to northern Peru (south to Huánuco).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Red-hooded Tanager (Piranga rubriceps) [XC787204]
by Jerome Fischer from Above Leymebamba, Peru (call)
Red-hooded Tanager (Piranga rubriceps) [XC98761]
by Andrew Spencer from San Andres-Jimbura road, Cordillera Las Lagunillas, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Molecular-genetic evidence indicates that this genus forms a monophyletic group with Habia and Chlorothraupis, and that all three are more closely related to cardinals (Cardinalidae) than to true tanagers.