[3] In the early 20th century subspecies N. g. salvini was considered by some authors as a separate species but that treatment did not gain wide acceptance.

Adults have a heavy decurved bill that is pale grayish green to horn-colored at its base with a yellow tip.

All subspecies have a shaggy, glossy blue-black, erectile crest, bright blue skin surrounding the eye, and a rufous vent area.

Adults of the nominate subspecies N. g. geoffroyi have a cinnamon brown forehead, crown, and lower face; bronzy olive green upperparts and wings; and a glossy purple tail.

N. g. aequatorialis has a brown forehead and crown, bronzy green wings and upperparts, and a wide black breast band.

N. g. australis has a dark brown forehead and crown and a pale grayish throat and central breast with heavily marked sides.

N. g. dulcis has dark glossy blue wings and upperparts and darker underparts than the nominate with heavy scaling on the breast.

[6] The subspecies of rufous-vented ground cuckoo are found thus:[2][6] The species generally inhabits mature undisturbed evergreen forest.

It builds a sturdy nest of large sticks with a flatish cup of dry grass and fresh leaves.