[5] The pale-bellied tapaculo inhabits the Eastern Andes of Colombia.

It inhabits low scrub in elfin forest and páramo at elevations of 2,000 to 3,900 m (6,600 to 12,800 ft).

Locally it can be found in Chusquea bamboo stands, and it appears to tolerate disturbed and fragmented habitat.

[5] The pale-bellied tapaculo is assumed to be insectivorous but few details of its diet or foraging phenology are known.

[5] The songs of pale-bellied tapaculo subspecies differ somewhat, but all are a trill, sometimes preceded by a single note [1].

However, S. g. gelesi has a limited range and the habitat of S. g. morenoi is very badly fragmented and degraded.