A large ground pigeon of lowland and foothill forest. Plump with dark upperparts and pale rufous flanks. White cheek with a low crest behind the head and a bright red eye. Pale legs and a long, thick, pale-tipped bill. Shy and difficult to see. Forages on the ground and often flicks its tail. Thick bill and white cheek differentiate it from any similar-sized ground bird. Call, a single, flutelike “hoo!” given at regular intervals. Sounds like blowing over the top of a bottle.