This small finch occurs in South American Chaco woodland, woodland edges and grasslands. Its usual range extends from southern Bolivia through Paraguay to west-central Argentina. A bird recorded near Mendoza city in 2024 may have escaped or been released.
Species descriptions cited by the study note a prominent black crest, broad eyebrow, white cheek, black throat and slate-grey body.
In Bolivia it has been recorded in dry scrub, open woodland and farmland in Tarija, foraging on the ground in pairs or small flocks.
The Birds of Bolivia account gives a length of about 11.5–12 cm.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.