The nominate was at one time treated as a subspecies of the American coot (F. americana) and the other as a separate species.

The current treatment has been widely accepted since the 1980s, but there is some speculation that the subspecies might be full species.

[6] The nominate subspecies of Andean coot is found in the Andes from northern Peru south through western Bolivia into northern Chile as far as the Antofagasta Region and into northwestern Argentina as far as Catamarca Province.

F. a. atrura is found between 2,200 and 3,600 m (7,200 and 11,800 ft) in Colombia and at lower elevations in Ecuador and Peru.

[6] Populations of Andean coots that live at high elevations have adapted physiologically to a low-oxygen environment.

Chara is a main component, especially in higher elevation lakes, but others include Myriophyllum and Elodea.

It feeds by diving as deep as 5 m (20 ft) and also by walking on floating vegetation.

It may breed at any time of year but most egg laying is in the July–August dry season.