Macroagelaius subalaris occurs mainly along the west slope of the East Andes in Colombia. There are historical records from south-west Cundinamarca, north to the tip of the East Andes in Norte de Santander, where it also occurred on the west slope south to the upper Zulia valley¹, and it may have occurred throughout the east slope. However, the only recent records are from Guanentá-Alto Río Fonce Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, Santander, where it has been described as common⁷. Its range has certainly contracted following complete deforestation in some areas, but less disturbed and ornithologically unknown forests in west Boyacá and Santander^1,6, or above c.2,500 m ³, could harbour remnant populations. Recent surveys recorded the species in 22 localities (including one from which the species was historically known) from La Aguadita in Cundinamarca to Surata in Santander¹¹, although follow-up surveys found that many of these sites are being rapidly deforested^14,16. In surveys of Serranía de los Yariguíes between 2003 and 2006, the species was recorded from three sites. At one of those sites, it was abundant; at the others it was observed less frequently^10,13. The Yariguíes mountains probably harbour a population of at least 800 individuals, and they are regarded as the core area for the remaining global population¹⁷.