Distribution

Found in the arid Caribbean belt on the northern coasts of Colombia and Venezuela; from La Guajira Peninsula (Colombia) to the Araya Peninsula (Venezuela). In Colombia, it is found from sea level to up to 300 meters above sea level in the extreme northeastern part of the country on La Guajira (Maicao, Riohacha, Fonseca) ranging west to the northeastern base of the Sierra de Santa Marta mountains (52 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (1989). The Birds of South America. Volume 1: The Oscine Passerines. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, USA. Close ,5 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

In Venezuela, it has a disjunct distribution. The western portion of its range extends from Paraguaipoa (Zulia) through the arid lowlands of Falcón and Lara. In eastern Venezuela, its range extends from northeastern Anzoátegui to the western portion of the Araya Peninsula and the vicinity of Cariaco Gulf and Carúpano (Sucre) and on Margarita Island (1 Meyer de Schauensee, R., and W. H. Phelps (1978). A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 2 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 3 Restall, R., C. Rodner, and M. Lentino (2006). Birds of Northern South America. Volume 1: Species Accounts. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

It is found at low altitudes in Venezuela; up to 200 meters above sea level, but there are some records up to 700 meters above sea level (Sierra de Baragua, Lara state) and 800-850 meters above sea level (Cerro Copey, Margarita Island).

Introduced Range

Information is needed.

Extralimital Records

Records on eBird (2019-2024) indicate that single individuals or small groups (2-3 individuals) have been observed outside the typical range of the species. In Venezuela, single individuals were reported in Carabobo and Yaracuy states, and on one of Los Testigos islands. In Colombia, there are a few records from Cúcuta (Norte de Santander) and surrounding areas. All observed individuals were males and were probably birds that escaped from cages; more information is needed to assess whether these records represent natural vagrancy.

Despite reports of significant habitat loss in Colombia (53 Renjifo, L. M., A. M. Amaya-Villarreal, J. Burbano-Girón, and J. Velásquez-Tibatá (2016). Libro rojo de aves de Colombia, Volumen II: Ecosistemas abiertos, secos, insulares, acuáticos continentales, marinos, tierras altas del Darién y Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta y bosques húmedos del centro, norte y oriente del país. Editorial Pontificia Universidad Javeriana e Instituto Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, Colombia. Close ), there is no information on how these changes affect Vermilion Cardinal abundance and distribution. More information is needed.