Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania [United Republic of], Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
South-eastern Sudan, Ethiopia and western Somalia south through eastern Africa to northern Namibia, northern Botswana and Natal; also in coastal Gabon south to south-western Angola.
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove (Turtur chalcospilos) [XC396568]
by Tim Cockcroft from Kolol Viewpoint, Tambach Escarpment, Kenya (call)
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove (Turtur chalcospilos) [XC365258]
by Rory Nefdt from Liwonde Safari Camp, Machinga, Southern Region, Malawi (song)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Black-billed Wood-Dove (Turtur abyssinicus), with which has been considered conspecific. In southern Africa, western populations formerly awarded subspecies volkmanni, and eastern ones subspecies zambesiensis, but variation is clinal.