It is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

Three subspecies are currently recognised:[2] The chestnut-breasted cuckoo is about 22–25 centimetres (8.7–9.8 in) long.

Adults have a dark slaty grey-blue head, back and wings, deep rufous breast and underparts and barred black and white tail.

Immatures are dull greyish cinnamon on the head and wings, grading to dull mid brown on the outer parts of the wings, and pale buff or cinnamon on the breast and underparts.

Both adults and immatures have a yellow orbital eye ring.