It inhabits primary and selectively logged forest and forest edge up to 2,400 m, but favours lowlands. It appears to be confined to closed-canopy forest, although occasionally ventures to fruiting trees outside forest to feed. It is gregarious and nomadic, travelling long distances, both daily and seasonally, in response to food availability.

Ducula carola is endemic to the Philippines, where it is known from Luzon, Mindoro, Sibuyan, Negros, Siquijor and Mindanao (Collar et al. 1999). There is evidence of a decline on Mindanao and it may have been extirpated on Sibuyan. There have been recent sightings at Sablayan Penal Colony on Mindoro, where previously it had also been thought to have disappeared (R. Hutchinson in litt. 2016, eBird 2022). The subspecies nigrorum of the Visayas is likely to be extinct (Allen 2020): although common as recently as the 1950s on Negros, it was not found during surveys there in the 1990s (Evans et al. 1993), and it is very likely to be extinct on Siquijor (D. Allen in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Underway
It has been recorded recently in two protected areas, the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (Luzon) and Mt Kitanglad Natural Park (Mindanao). Four others may offer some habitat protection: Maria Aurora Monument and Quezon National Parks (Luzon), and MUFRC Experimental Forest and Siburan Penal Colony (Mindoro).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys, using sound recording methods, to clarify the species' current distribution and population status across its historical range, including Mt Halcon (Mindoro), Mts Canlaon and Talinis/Twin Lakes (Negros), Mts Apo, Mayo, Malindang, Matutum and Three Kings (Mindanao). Satellite-tag and radio-tag birds to gather information on ecology and movements to enable conservation planning. Promote improved protection of remaining forests at key sites.