Though the taxonomies of the North American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (AOS), the International Ornithological Committee (IOC), and Clements use the English name "grey-fronted quail-dove" for the current G. caniceps, the Handbook of the Birds of the World retains the pre-split "grey-headed quail-dove" name for it.

The adult male's forehead ("front") is grayish white darkening to gray on the rest of the head, with slight purplish iridescence on the back of it.

[6] The grey-fronted quail-dove was formerly found throughout Cuba but is now apparently limited to the island's eastern margin and the Sierra del Rosario in the west.

[6] The grey-fronted quail-dove forages on the ground, singly or in pairs, where it feeds on seeds and small invertebrates.

[6] The IUCN has assessed the grey-fronted quail-dove as Vulnerable because it has a small population that is declining due to hunting and habitat loss.