Croaking Ground-Dove

About the Croaking Ground-Dove

The croaking ground dove (Columbina cruziana) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The croaking ground dove and Picui ground dove (Columbina picui) are sometimes considered sister species. The croaking ground dove is monotypic.

The croaking ground dove is 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Males weigh about 52 g (1.8 oz) and females 46 g (1.6 oz). The adult male's head is bluish gray, and its upperparts brownish gray. The central tail feathers are darker gray, and the outer ones black with white tips. The closed wing shows a dark bar and lines of dark spots. The breast and underparts are mauve pink. The eye is red with a white outer ring and is surrounded by bare yellow skin. Its fairly long bill is bright yellow near its base. The adult female's head is brown and the wing markings are less intense than the male's. Juveniles are similar to the female but their feathers have buffy tips.

The croaking ground dove is found near the Pacific coast from Nariño Department in extreme southwestern Colombia through Ecuador and Peru to Chile's Tarapacá Region. Its range... Wikipedia →