It was scientifically described in 2007 on basis of three museum specimens from Antioquia, Colombia, which were previously labelled as slaty brushfinches (Atlapetus schistaceus).

[3] In January 2018, a Colombian resident of San Pedro de los Milagros noticed this bird on his way to Sunday mass.

The bird had been previously overlooked despite living relatively close to the city of Medellín, which is home to 3.7 million people.

This brushfinch species is persisting in fairly small patches of low scrub close to people.

Opportunities to protect remaining habitat patches as new reserves and to quickly restore working lands using silvipasture techniques [combining trees, forage, and livestock] hold great potential to benefit this species, but action must be taken quickly".