[6] The cinnamon quail-thrush is an Australian endemic that is typically found in arid and semi-arid regions of central Australia.

[3] These regions are defined by the presence of desert vegetation and land forms as well as by low rainfall, with less than 500 mm (20 in) per annum in most areas.

[9] Cinnamon quail-thrushes are exclusively ground foragers, eating a wide range of invertebrates (including grasshoppers, bugs, beetles, flies and ants), and seeds of both native and introduced flora species.

[10][6] Breeding occurs on the ground, with cup-shaped nests being built in depressions and lined with strips of bark, fine grass or sticks.

[8] While the cinnamon quail-thrush's population has not been measured, it is thought that the species is slowly declining due to ongoing habitat degradation caused by livestock and introduced herbivores.