The Chestnut-crowned Antpitta is distributed in the coastal mountains of Venezuela and the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru. See the distribution map at xeno-canto. It is found in forest borders, bamboo, secondary growth and elsewhere from about 1,200 to 3,600 metres.

Jeremy Minns recorded the song which consists of 3 notes with the middle note the lowest in pitch, the first note highest and weakest and the final note loudest and falling in pitch.