The Scarlet-fronted Parakeet is distributed in the Andes of north-western and western South America from Venezuela through Colombia and Ecuador to Peru. For a distribution map see Neotropical Birds. It is found in moist and humid forest including cloud forest.

It is green with a red forecrown and a horn-coloured bill. Sometimes a few red spots on the sides of the neck are visible. The underside of the tail and wings are yellow-olive.

It is gregarious, almost always in flocks and noisy.