It is endemic to the Philippines found on the islands of Luzon, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Negros and Panay where its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests.

The upper parts are dark green, each feather being tipped with buff giving a spotted effect.

This species is now monotypic but two subspecies were formerly recognized: The spotted wood kingfisher occurs in pairs or as a solitary bird but is seldom seen because it moves around in dense cover in the lower storey of the forest.

[3] It feeds on beetles and other insects, snails and small vertebrates which it probably finds while foraging on the ground.

More surveys and understanding of its biology are needed and it is highly possible that this species be uplisted due to habitat destruction.