Despite its striking coloration, call, and evolutionary distinctiveness, it was only described in 2021, and the bird's discovery and documentation to Western science only occurred during the prior two decades.

[3] The first proper observation of this species was made in 2000, when it was discovered in its nonbreeding habitat on a birding tour along the Kosñipata Road in Cuzco department, Peru.

[5] Unusually for tanagers, this species is a migratory one, breeding in the Machariapo Valley north of Apolo, Bolivia, and having a much wider nonbreeding range on the eastern slope of the Andes in southern Peru.

[4] Despite its elusiveness and being described only recently, its nonbreeding range includes the region around the Kosñipata Road, which borders Manu National Park and is one of the ornithologically best-studied sites in Peru.

However, potential plans by China to build a road between Cuzco and La Paz may bring large amounts of colonizers, which could lead to deforestation in breeding habitat.

However, it has been recommended that the species be classified as Data Deficient due to the lack of info on population size, trends, and distribution.