A small-bodied, mostly brown dove with a long tail and a short stout black bill. Heavily barred tail and rump are diagnostic. Found from sea level to 2600 meters of elevation, usually singly or in pairs at forest edge, though groups of up to 20 can sometimes be found feeding on fruiting trees. Very similar to both Brown Cuckoo-Dove in New Guinea and MacKinlay’s Cuckoo-Dove in the Solomon Islands. Male Brown Cuckoo-Dove differs in being bigger with a grayish head and iridescent green neck patch, female has thick black under tail crescents. MacKinlay’s Cuckoo-Dove is a similar size but is a lighter tan color on the body showing contrast with the darker chestnut wings, whereas Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove is uniformly ruddy brown. It also differs from both species in its barred uppertail and rump. Commonly vocal and most often heard giving a rapid series of around twelve “woi” notes.