It inhabits mainly humid forests and bushy forest edges, but is also observed in secondary forest as well as in open, disturbed areas, and occasionally in coffee groves and near houses (Baptista et al. 2019). It is also common in agricultural mosaics where forest fragments remain (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). It adapts to the rural landscape, nests in coffee bushes and feeds on seeds of species from disturbed areas (Carvajal-Rueda and Losada-Prado 2011), it has also been observed in cacao groves, orchards and annual crops as long as there are patches of forest surrounding areas in good condition, scrub and abundant secondary vegetation (Casas-Cruz and Ayerbe-Quiñones 2006, Carvajal-Rueda et al. 2014). It ranges from the subtropical zones at 1,250 m to 2,380 m, and as high as 2,500 m; prime elevation range is likely 1,625-2,050 (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). Foraging occurs on continuous areas with streams, forest patches and crops. Individuals collected in Huila in March/April and in Tolima in June were in breeding condition. Its primary diet consists of fallen seeds, fruit, and occasionally insects, corn , and beans (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018).  

Tolima Dove is endemic to Colombia, where it occurs on the eastern slope of the Central Andes and locally in the East Andes between 1,250 and 2,500 m. The species is known from different sites in the departments of Tolima (Coello-Combeima river system near Ibagué), El Hato, Huila (headwaters of the río Magdalena), Cauca (Casas-Cruz and Ayerbe-Quiñones 2006), Cundinamarca (González-Prieto et al. 2014), and Caldas (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). Reserva Natural de la Sociedad Civil El Encanto (private protected area) in Palestina (A. Carvajal-Rueda in litt. 2020). The species is fairly common at one site in Tolima (P. Salaman in litt. 1999). The species is now considered more abundant across more than 50 sites, with over 600 recent records (P. Salaman in litt. 2020). It has particularly high density in the municipalities of Chaparral, Ibagué, and Líbano and are thus considered important areas for the species (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). Increased observations is likely due to an increase in bird watching and ornithological activities within the species's range, improving site knowledge of species that were previously considered rare and localised (Cortés et al. 2020). 

Conservation Actions Underway
In Colombia, it was formerly considered Endangered (Renjifo et al. 2002), but is now assessed as Vulnerable at the national level (Renjifo et al. 2014). IIt is found in the zones of Nevado del Huila National Natural Park and Los Nevados National Natural Parks (Carvajal-Rueda et al. 2014). 11% of the remaining habitat is thus thought to exist within protected areas (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). Additionally, 12 areas in the Colombian Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas overlap with the species's range. It is also thought to be present in 121 private reserves, equating to 13.5 km² in coverage (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). A conservation plan was designated in 2018.  An integrated conservation programme for the forests around the type-locality should benefit this and other threatened species in the area. Action for the Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis has increased public awareness and community involvement in conservation issues in the río Toche area, Tolima (Salaman et al. 1999), which should also benefit this species. Protected areas such as the Natural Reserves of Civil Society and complementary conservation initiatives such as the San Jorge Botanical Garden and the Alto Combeima Forest Reserve in Ibagué also contribute to maintaining the habitat of this species; The Tolima-Antocephala Ornithological Association has carried out different environmental awareness and education strategies around the road and supported the process of declaring it an emblematic bird of the municipality of Lebanon Tolima (Guerra-Ruiz per A. Carvajal-Rueda in litt. 2020). It is included in six Important Bird Areas, including Ibanazca, Cañon del río Combeima, Cuenca del río Toche, Reservas Comunitarias de Roncesvalles, Cuenca del río San Miguel and Nevado del Huila (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018). 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Evaluate forest cover in its range and follow-up with surveys of larger blocks to determine the current population and distribution (López-Lanús et al. 2000). Investigate the ecological requirements of this species, especially the degree to which it tolerates modified habitats. Establish a captive breeding programme (Collar and Butchart 2013). Protect a stronghold area, if found (López-Lanús et al. 2000). As devised on the recent inclusion of the species in a designated conservation plan, strategies proposed include designing of management that enables systems such as shade coffee, allowing protection of the species and strengthening of local agriculture, maintaining the population in the three priority areas of the Tolima department, supporting initiatives that enable socio-econonic change in adopting diverse agroforestry schemes, strengthening the partnership between various stakeholders, and reducing habitat and hunting pressures through education programmes (Escudero-Páez et al. 2018).