[3] "Topknot pigeon" has been designated the official common name by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC);[4] John Gould noted in 1848 that it had been given this name by the colonists of New South Wales.

Juveniles are like females but the chest is mottled not streaked, the crest is smaller, with the cere and forehead being light brown, the crown grey.

These pigeons cover great distances in search of fruit bearing trees suddenly appearing in areas where they have not been seen for many years and will occasionally move beyond their normal southern range limit, into eastern Victoria.

[2] Historic records from 1953 show the topknot pigeon as an "accidental" species to Tasmania with a specimen taken at Spreyton near Devonport.

[9] The topknot pigeon has a solely frugivorous diet which varies throughout its range as fruit ripen at different times during the year.

[12] The breeding season can be directly related to the combined ripening of fruit trees and palms within the rainforest habitat.

[10] The species used to occur in enormous numbers in Australian rainforest, but the population declined because of forest clearance and shooting.

However the increasing prevalence of a new food source in the fruit of the 'weed' camphor laurel trees has seen a recent resurgence in their number.

[citation needed] As populations appear to be fluctuating but large, the species is currently classified as Least concern by the IUCN.