The Moss-backed Sparrow ranges from the eastern Bolivian Andes foothills to northwestern Argentina. It uses the understory of second-growth and mature forest, usually alone or with its mate and sometimes in mixed flocks.
The male has a black-and-white striped head, grey upper back and flanks, moss-green lower mantle and part of the wings, a mostly whitish underside with a black lower-throat collar, and an orange-yellow bill. Females and immatures are duller and may have a buff wash below.
It uses the understory of both second-growth and more mature forests. It is usually alone or with its mate and sometimes joins mixed flocks.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.