This is a forest floor species of tropical lowland forest under that occurs between 800-2,000 m (del Hoyo et al. 1994, Carroll and Kirwan 2020). It prefers dense, tangled undergrowth (Restall et al. 2006).

Odontophorus speciosus occurs in the east Andes. Three subspecies are recognised: Subspecies soederstroemii occurs in south and east Ecuador, being described as fairly common at Podocarpus National Park, but rare elsewhere (del Hoyo et al. 1994, Restall et al. 2006, Carroll and Kirwan 2020). The species is uncommon in Peru, where the nominate subspecies speciosus is restricted to the east-central region and subspecies loricatus occurs in the south-east, ranging from there to east Bolivia (del Hoyo et al. 1994). The species was recently discovered in the southernmost region of Colombia (Donegan et al. 2011, Olaciregui and Guzmán 2011, eBird 2021, GBIF.org 2021).

Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in several protected areas; including the Podocarpus National Park in Ecuador, where it is fairly common (Carroll and Kirwan 2020). 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Make efforts to quantify the population size. Investigate the impact of threats. Expand the protected area network to effectively protect IBAs. Effectively resource and manage existing and new protected areas, utilising emerging opportunities to finance protected area management with the joint aims of reducing carbon emissions and maximizing biodiversity conservation. Conservation on private lands, through expanding market pressures for sound land management and preventing forest clearance on lands unsuitable for agriculture, is also essential (Soares-Filho et al. 2006).