Fairly common in humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edge, plantations, adjacent semi-open areas with trees and hedges. Usually in noisy small groups moving at mid-upper levels. Black head and bib surrounds white throat patch (throat patch buffy in Los Tuxtlas region of southern Veracruz), upperparts bright golden green. Larger and noisier than the rather similar Buff-throated Saltator, which has a less contrasting black head.