Present year-round in humid paramo with Espeletia vegetation between 3,000 m and 5,200 m. Breeding is closely related to the flowering of Espeletia and the relatively large nest is constructed from the fibres of plants of this genus. Often this is along riverbanks underneath overhanging structures near waterfalls; often reused for several years (del Hoyo et al. 1999). Several nests may be found close together, indicating a lack of female territoriality (del Hoyo et al. 1999). Clutch size is 2, incubation is 21-23 days undertaken by the female, and fledging occurs 35-38 days after hatching (del Hoyo et al. 1999).

Oxypogon guerinii occurs in the east Andes of Colombia, south to Cundinamarca, where it is described as locally common in high mossy paramo with Espeletia spp. present (Hilty and Brown 1986, McMullan et al. 2010).