The Masked Cardinal, is native to Trinidad, far northeastern Colombia, and northern Venezuela. It was previously considered conspecific with the Red-capped Cardinal (Paroaria gularis), but the Masked Cardinal is distinguished by its black ear-coverts, red lower throat and upper chest, and a typically whitish lower mandible. This bird's recognition as a distinct species is supported by the lack of hybridization with P. gularis in the limited area where their ranges overlap in southern Venezuela.