[4] The dark-backed wood quail is found in the Andes from southern Colombia's Nariño Department south to Cotopaxi Province in Ecuador.

It inhabits primary and secondary tropical forest in the fairly narrow altitudinal band between 1,100 and 2,200 m (3,600 and 7,200 ft).

[4] The dark-backed wood quail forages in groups of up to 10 birds seeking terrestrial invertebrates and fruit.

Observations of recently hatched chicks and dependent young in many different months indicate a long breeding season or possibly two of them.

The dark-backed wood quail's advertising song is a duet, "a fast rollicking 'koreewow-koreewow-koreewow...'" and calls include "soft whistles and mellow rolling notes.