Has sometimes been assigned as a subspecies of Dusky Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia magna).
The following 7 subspecies are recognised:
borneensis Robinson & Kloss, 1921 - Northern Borneo. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Philippine Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia tenuirostris).
hypopercna Oberholser, 1912 - Simeulue (west of Sumatra). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Barusan Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia modiglianii).
modiglianii Salvadori, 1887 - Nias (west of Sumatra). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Barusan Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia modiglianii).
elassa Oberholser, 1912 - Mentawai Is of Siberut, Sipura and Pagai Is (west of Sumatra). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Barusan Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia modiglianii).
cinnamomea Salvadori, 1892 - Enggano (west of Sumatra). Has also been treated as a full species, Macropygia cinnamomea.
emiliana Bonaparte, 1854 - Java and Krakatau (west of Java), Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores and Paloe (north of Flores).
megala Siebers, 1929 - Kangean Is (off north-eastern Java).