In Cambodia, inhabits semi-evergreen and hill evergreen forest, mostly in the lowlands but recorded to 1,450 m in the Cardamom mountains (Eames et al. 2002, Goes 2013). In Lao PDR, records span a range of wooded habitats including semi-evergreen forests, open savanna-like dipterocarps forest, highly degraded semi-evergreen forests, regenerating forest with high bamboo abundance, and mountain foothill semi-evergreen forests, chiefly below 500 m. However, it has been recorded in semi-evergreen montane forests to over 1,000 m, exceptionally to 1,500 m, and locally in heavily degraded sections of Annamitic forest to at least 800 m (Timmins et al. in press and references therein). Combined these observations suggest a degree of habitat plasticity that that seems at odds with its localised distribution; in the north, for example, it appears to be confined to the Mekong low-lying hills in Vientiane and Xaignabouly provinces (Duckworth et al. 1999, Timmins et al. in press), and it appears to be entirely absent from Myanmar, the Thai-Malay Peninsula and far northern Thailand or Viet Nam, or China at all. Timmins et al. (in press) concluded that taking all observations into account, there are likely some 'quirks' of the species' ecological niche and 'although not an obligate ’lowland’ species, elevation and factors associated with elevation could well be important, and equally that moister microhabitats may also be significant'.
Like all ground-cuckoos, this is a strictly terrestrial species which renders it highly vulnerable to snaring. Its diet includes insects, small reptiles, small mammals, and small birds (Payne and de Juana 2020).

Carpococcyx renauldi is endemic to South-East Asia. In Cambodia, relatively widespread (at least formerly) in semi-evergreen and hill evergreen forests, including in the Cardamom mountains (Goes 2013). In Lao PDR, historically probably widespread throughout what Timmins et al. (in press) define as the 'Lao Lowlands' as well as the foothills and lower slopes of the Annamites, and probably very marginally at the southern edge of northern Lao PDR; now, however, the species is extremely localised (Timmins et al. in press). In Viet Nam its status is not well known but it was probably widespread in the country's south and centre, with historical records stretching north to at least Ke Go (eBird 2024). In Thailand the species at one time occurred as far north as Phayao province (Robson 1986) but now confined to the country's east, with recent records from Khao Yai NP, Khao Khitchakut NP, Khao Ang Rue Nai WS, Phanom Dong Rak WS, Huai Sala WS, Phu Khieo WS, Thung Salaeng Luang NP and Phu Chong–Na Yoi NP (eBird 2024).

Conservation Actions Underway
Occurs in numerous protected areas throughout its range (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2024, eBird 2024, Timmins et al. in press); while in some countries these are likely to be highly effective at safeguarding populations of this species from the effects of habitat loss and hunting (e.g. Thailand), in others they have largely been ineffective at doing so (Timmins et al. in press).

Conservation Actions Proposed
The most urgent priority for this species should be determining its status in recently unsurveyed national parks, particularly in Lao PDR (Timmins et al. in press). Areas where conservation measures could reasonably be implemented to protect the species should be prioritised for searches; deployment of autonomous recording units (ARUs) or camera traps are likely to prove the most effective survey methods for this highly elusive species, and reduce the risk of false negative results. Protecting this species will be difficult, but will require the adequate resourcing of enforcement as well as community engagement to protect remaining populations, all of which remain very vulnerable to extirpation by trapping.