On its upper surfaces, the Bleeding-heart is slate gray in color, but because it is iridescent, it can appear to be purple, royal blue, or bottle-green, and the apparent color varies with lighting conditions. The belly and underwing areas are buff or chestnut. As in most pigeons, there is little sexual dimorphism; males tend to be larger and have a more pronounced red patch, and some authorities claim that the female has a purplish iris, though others dispute this. Body shape is typical of the genus, with a round body, a short tail, and long legs.

The species is endemic to the central and southern parts of the large island of Luzon, and the neighboring small Polillo Islands, in the Philippines. It lives in primary or secondary forest, and can be found at altitudes varying from sea level up to 1400 metres. They eat seeds, berries, and grubs. They are shy and secretive, and very quiet, rarely leaving the ground except when nesting. Unlike the other bleeding-hearts, they usually lay two eggs in each clutch.

Although not formally regarded as endangered, the Bleeding-heart is under some threat, since it is commonly trapped. Local people use it for meat, but its striking appearance means that there is also a market for it in the pet trade. A captive breeding project has been started in Australia.

The pair of Bleeding-heart doves at the Brevard Zoo have produced several offspring in 2010.