This species is a plains-level and lowland forest specialist occurring in dense forest over dry ground in lowland dipterocarp forest, and undulating lowland and low hilly forest, with a preference for alluvial areas near rivers (Long and Collar 2002, Erritzøe et al. 2012, Eaton et al. 2021). It is shy and little known, foraging on the forest floor (on arthropods and fruit), and sometimes following army-ant swarms, bearded pigs Sus barbatus and sun bears Helarctos malayanus (Long and Collar 2002, Fischer et al. 2017).

Carpococcyx radiceus, treated separately from the threatened Sumatran Ground-cuckoo C. viridis, is endemic to the island of Borneo (Brunei Darussalam, Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, and Kalimantan, Indonesia) (BirdLife International 2001). This cuckoo is widely regarded as scarce to very rare and is confined to primary forest and tall/mature secondary forest. It principally occurs below 500 m (Eaton et al. 2021) and appears to favour alluvial forest. 

Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs within a number of protected areas on Borneo and was studied within Sungai Wain protected Forest where patrol teams have controlled hunting pressure, stopped illegal logging and maintained fire breaks. Education work is carried out in the local community.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Expand conservation actions that have been introduced successfully at Sungai Wain Protected Forest to other forest areas. Combat forest fires in the future. Generate a density estimate for the species by surveying using playback, and estimate its global population size. Continue to monitor rates of habitat loss.