The Saffron-cowled Blackbird is distributed in south Brazil, eastern Paraguay, north-eastern Argentina and Uruguay. See the distribution map at xeno-canto. It is classified as Endangered by Birdlife International because of its rapidly declining population.

The male is black with a yellow head, rump and underparts. The female is similar but has browny-grey replacing the black.

There are often found in flocks and they associate with other icterines such as Brown-and-yellow Marshbird Pseudoleistes virescens, meadowlarks and Chopi Blackbirds.