The golden grosbeak is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

The multiplicity of names traces in part to the above history of taxonomic splitting.

Golden grosbeak is now favored over the other names by the major taxonomic authorities,[5] as reflected in frequently updated and popular websites like eBird.org and Neotropicalbirds.org.

They have white spots on their median and greater wing-coverts that wear over time, and older birds appear darker.

This classification reflects the species' large range and stable population size (<30% decline over ten years or three generations).