This species is considered to be VULNERABLE by Birdlife/IUCN redlist owing to its small population <1,000 mature individuals. Endemic to the lower Andes of Patagonia, the rufous-tailed hawk is found in low numbers in southern Chile and Argentina, as far south as the Strait of Magellan. Occupying Nothofagus forest, along with steppe grassland, from sea-level to elevations of at least 1,200 metres.