It occurs in humid tree-line pajonal with forested ravines, on páramo and in patches of mossy elfin forest above the tree-line (del Hoyo et al. 1999).

Metallura odomae is relatively common within three areas of southernmost Ecuador (including Podocarpus and Yacuri National Parks), and on Cerro Chinguela, north Peru (Piura), at 2,850-3,350 m (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990, Wege and Long 1995, Parker et al. 1996, Stattersfield et al. 1998, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001, Schulenberg et al. 2007). It occurs in elfin forest, forest edge and scrub where, despite its numerical abundance (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001, N. Krabbe in litt. 2011), it was thought to be vulnerable owing to its highly restricted distribution (Parker et al. 1982, Stattersfield et al. 1998).

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES II. CITES Appendix II. Occurs in Podocarpus and Yacuri (J. Freile in litt. 2011) National Parks, Ecuador, and Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary, Peru.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Conduct research into threats and their impacts on the species. Effectively protect Podocarpus National Park. Secure Cerro Chinguela.