It inhabits wet foothill and lower montane forests with most records between 400-1,500 m (Martínez-Gómez et al. 2013, Hughes 2020) but with records below 100 m and up to 1,695 m (del Hoyo et al. 2014, Huang et al. 2021, eBird 2023). It seems to be dependent on the interior of continuous primary forest and is only rarely observed in adjacent secondary areas (López-Lanús et al. 1999): a radio-tracked individual avoided secondary forest (Karubian and Carrasco 2008). This individual, tracked while breeding used a home range of 42.2 ha (Minimum Convex Polygon, MCP) or 49.9 ha (95% kernel analysis) (Karubian and Carrasco 2008). Reports and information from local people suggest that it sometimes associates with collared peccaries Tayassu tajacu, and with mixed-species bird flocks attending army ant swarms (Hornbuckle et al. 1997, López-Lanús et al. 1999). However a radio tracked individual was rarely associated with army ants (9.5% of location fixes) and never with mammals, though the latter may have been due to their low abundance at the study site (Karubian and Carrasco 2008). It forages for arthropods from the ground by scouring foliage, stems and tree-trunks, or catching prey disturbed by army ants or by itself (Hornbuckle et al. 1997, López-Lanús et al. 1999, Karubian and Carrasco 2008). Two recently documented nesting attempts provided the first information on its nesting biology: one took place in March-April and the other in May, and both nests were located c.5 m above ground in understorey trees in primary forest (Karubian et al. 2007). The clutch size appears to be small and may be only a single egg (Karubian et al. 2007). A wide range of invertebrates (particularly grasshoppers) and vertebrates (mainly small frogs) were fed to the nestling (Karubian et al. 2007).

Neomorphus radiolosus is found on the Pacific slope of the West Andes in west Colombia to north-west Ecuador. Despite vast tracts of continuous forests remaining within the range, it appears absent from large areas of seemingly suitable habitat, and records are scarce and localised (eBird 2023). In Colombia most records were previously restricted to the southern part of the Chocó (Hilty and Brown 1986, Ayerbe-Quiñones et al. 2008, Calderón-Leyton et al. 2011, Erritzøe et al. 2012) but extended considerably northwards by López-Ordóñez et al. (2013) and further to the Área de Manejo Especial Étnico del Alto Amurrupá in Risarelda Department (Martínez-Gómez et al. 2013). Additionally there is photographic evidence of the occurrence in Reserva la Bonga, more than 150 km further north in Antioquia (Munera 2014). Consequently the extent of occurrence is estimated at a larger value than in previous assessments, at 138,000 km².
Extensive and rapid deforestation in the Ecuadorian and southern Colombian portion of the range in the second half of the 20th century (Dodson and Gentry 1991) reduced the area of occupancy and by inference the population size. This decline is continuing but at a much reduced rate but remaining forest in these areas is fragmented and degraded. Consequently continuing declines in the area of occupancy and in the area, extent and quality of habitat are inferred.

Conservation Actions Underway
It is known from several protected areas, including Los Farallones de Cali and Munchique National Parks, El Pangan Nature Reserve (Colombia), Cotacachi-Cayapas and Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserves, as well as the private Canandé and Tesoro Escondido Reserves (Ecuador). It is listed as Endangered at the national levels in Colombia and Ecuador (Renjifo et al. 2014, Freile et al. 2019).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey foothill-forests within its range to better determine its distribution and population size. Study the species' ecology. Investigate the impacts of forest loss, fragmentation and degradation on the population size. Implement population monitoring programmes. Create a network of effectively protected reserves in its range. Sustainably manage buffer zones to the reserves. Establish and expand environmental education programmes to raise awareness for the species and its habitat.