It breeds from southeastern Mexico to western Ecuador and northeastern Brazil.

The buff-throated saltator is on average 20 cm (7.9 in) long and weighs 42–52 g (1.5–1.8 oz).

Young birds are duller, and have a white-mottled blackish throat and breast, and brown markings on the lower underparts.

The buff-throated saltator feeds on fruit (e.g. of Cymbopetalum mayanum (Annonaceae), Trophis racemosa (Moraceae), and gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba)),[2] buds, nectar and slow-moving insects.

[3] They are laid in a bulky cup nest up to 2 m (6.6 ft) high in a tree or bush.