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We review the main biogeographic and phylogenetic hypotheses about the origin and distribution of the endemic birds from Brazilian mountaintops, a heterogeneous group composed of hummingbirds and passerines living in high-altitude open habitats ofcampos rupestres,campos de altitudeandcampos sulinosfrom southern to north-eastern Brazilian mountaintops (Espinhaço Range, Serra do Mar, Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra Geral). Some authors consider that these birds are probably closely related to other species distributed in cooler areas of South America. We used ranges of these birds, spatial pattern and discontinuities in the distribution of phytophysiognomies to determine potential geographic barriers to dispersal and centres of origin and speciation. We reanalysed biogeographical hypotheses regarding the evolution of the endemic birds from Brazilian mountaintops and their habitats in the light of recent phylogenetic reconstructions that included some of these species. The evolutionary histories of the speciesAugastes scutatus,Augastes lumachella,Formicivora grantsaui,Polystictus superciliarisandEmbernagra longicaudaare difficult to assess due to lack of phylogenies that establish their systematic position. ForAsthenes luizae,Asthenes moreirae,Cinclodes pabstiandC. espinhacensis, the phylogenies estimate also their lineage divergence times, which allows for inferences concerning connections between the biota of eastern Brazil, southern South America and the Andean mountains. We also identified 26 lowland regions between the mountains that were potentially barriers to dispersal. Phylogenetic relationships strongly highlight the importance of connecting paths and speciation through the south, especially in the cooler areas in South America. These patterns show that eastern Brazil, southern South America and the central and northern Andes are four important centres of origin and radiation for the endemic birds from the eastern Brazilian mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]