First described by English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1878, it is endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago, where it mainly inhabits rainforest and cloud forest in mountain areas above 500 m (1,600 ft).

Adults are almost entirely black, except for the dark chestnut undertail coverts, the silvery-grey underside of the tail, and a pale grey scaly pattern on the wings and back.

The black imperial pigeon was originally described as Carpophaga melanochroa by the English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1878 based on specimens from the Duke of York Islands.

[8] These four species were further thought to be most closely related to a group formed by the barking, chestnut-bellied, Vanuatu and goliath imperial pigeons.

[9] The black imperial pigeon is a large, heavily built, long-tailed species for its genus, with a length of 38–43 cm (15–17 in) and a weight of 661–665 g (23.3–23.5 oz).

The bill is slaty-grey with a black tip and the cere is mostly lacks feathers, giving the forehead a steeper appearance than related species such as Pinon's imperial pigeon.

[7][8] The black imperial pigeon is endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago, where it is found on the islands of Umboi, New Britain, Watom, Duke of York, and New Ireland.

[7][8] The only known black imperial pigeon nest was found in January 1994, at an elevation of 1,760 m (5,770 ft) on New Ireland, and had a diameter of 23 cm (9.1 in).

[8][12] Although it has shown an ability to tolerate selective logging in forests on New Ireland, its population is thought to currently be declining due to habitat destruction.