Locally comon in reed beds and marshes in Peru (coast and highlands), western Bolivia, Chile, Argentina (highlands in NW, lowlands in centre, S and E), Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil. Only member of its genus, 4 subspecies are recognised, the Andean one is Tachuris rubrigastra alticola. Local names: tachurí sietecolores, siete colores, sietecolores de laguna.