The Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo forages on the ground and has a prominent rufous-and-black crest and a black breast band. Peru Aves illustrates adults of unknown sex from Panama.
In Peru Aves' account, the illustrated adults of unknown sex from Panama are purplish brown above and light brown below, with a black breast band. They raise and flatten a rufous-and-black crest.
Peru Aves describes it foraging on the ground but does not identify the food items.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.