Previously they could be found as far north as Cairns and as far south as the Dandenongs, but due to land clearance, shootings in the 1940s for crop protection, and fox predation, they are rarely seen in these areas, but their populations have improved.

Legs are red and the sexes appear identical but immature pigeons are browner with a less distinct V pattern.

Their diet consists of fruit, berries, seeds from native forest trees and the odd insect.

The call of the wonga pigeon is a loud, high-pitched 'coo' repeated over long periods of time for a number of seconds.

It builds a twig platform nest with a diameter of about 30 centimetres, from about 3 to 20 metres above the ground, defended by breeding pairs.