The Red-capped Cardinal ranges from southeastern Colombia through Venezuela and the Guianas to Peru, Amazonian Brazil and northern Bolivia. It uses wetlands and waterside habitats and forages on the ground.
Adults have glossy blue-black upperparts, a scarlet head and upper throat, a black area from the lores to the chest, and white lower underparts. The head of an immature bird is buffy brown rather than scarlet.
It occurs in swamps, mangroves and open areas near water. It forages on the ground for seeds and berries, and also eats some arthropods.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.