The neck plumage, used in display, is streaked maroon and white, the underwing and undertail are dark grey, and the feet are yellow.

Juvenile birds have the maroon and grey replaced with dark brown, the bare parts are a dull greenish-yellow, and the wing feathers have pale fringes.

Its flight is quick, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general.

The African olive pigeon builds a large stick nest up to 15 m (49 ft) high in a tree and lays one (rarely two) white eggs.

[5] The African olive pigeon has been found to eat clay soil of basic pH and high sodium content.