[3] It was later regarded as a subspecies of the chestnut-crowned antpitta (G. ruficapilla) but on the basis of a 1995 publication it was returned to full species status.

[2] Grallaria antpittas are a "wonderful group of plump and round antbirds whose feathers are often fluffed up...they have stout bills [and] very short tails".

Adults have a pale rufous crown and nape, with thin whitish streaks on both and black spots on the forecrown.

[8][7][9] Watkins's antpitta is found in Loja and El Oro provinces in southwestern Ecuador and Tumbes and Piura departments adjoining them in Peru.

The species primarily inhabits dry deciduous and semi-deciduous forest and woodlands and to a lesser extent denser regenerating scrublands.

The species' nest is a bulky cup made of dry leaves, sticks, and mud with a lining of thinner twigs and fibers.

The song of Watkins's antpitta is "a series of 4-7 well-enunciated and emphatic whistled notes, the first set all similar but the last longer and sharply upslurred, e.g., keeu, keew-kew-kew k-wheeeei?".

"Clearance of forest and scrub for agricultural land, plus the loss of dense understorey through intense grazing by cattle and goats may adversely affect this species.