It was formerly considered a subspecies of P. erythropthalmus, but under the common name red-eyed thornbird. When split, P. erythropthalmus is known as the orange-eyed thornbird. Unlike that species, the orange-breasted thornbird has dark reddish-brown eyes, extensive rufous to the underparts, a relatively large rufous crown-patch, and dark central rectrices (which contrast with the rufous outer rectrices). The two also have different voices and are locally sympatric in São Paulo without evidence of interbreeding.