It has been recorded in Philippine grasslands, scrub, ravine edges, bamboo-forest edges, and gardens. It is secretive and stays under ground cover.
Females are larger and more colorful than males, with gray-brown upperparts mottled rufous or black, a chestnut breast, pale belly, and black wing spots bordered by buff. McGregor’s 1909 account describes the male with round white spots on the black head and face and a rufous-chestnut breast.
It forages in grassy forest edges and on dirt roads through forest, though records of its actual food are lacking. It is reluctant to flush; when disturbed it flies less than a meter above ground or runs and freezes under cover.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.