Pale-tailed Canastero occurs in central-southern Peru. The Apurimac form usheri has pale outer tail feathers, and the species account places it in arid valleys with scattered shrubs, cacti, and trees.
In the Apurimac form usheri, the outer tail feathers are described as whitish.
BirdLife/IUCN's account describes arid valleys with scattered shrubs, cacti, and trees as its habitat.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.