It inhabits old-growth rainforest, and also degraded habitats with large fruiting trees, including open woodland, parkland, plantations and gardens. It is most common in the lowlands and hills, but is also present in mountains to at least 1500 m (G. Dutson in litt.2008).

Ptilinopus tannensis is endemic to Vanuatu where it occurs on most islands. In Loru Protected Area on Espirito Santo, its population density was estimated to be 14 birds per km² (Bowen 1997), and it was recently found to be very common in all habitats and at all altitudinal levels (Barré et al. 2006), but it may be less common elsewhere, especially in the southern islands (G. Dutson pers. obs. 1998).

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Effectively protect lowland rainforest. Conduct social surveys to determine the extent of hunting, and consider measures to reduce hunting pressure.