Croaking Ground Dove Columbina cruziana Scientific name definitions

Croaking Ground-Dove is widespread and common throughout its range in western Ecuador, western Peru, Ecuador, and northern Chile. They occur in open arid habitat, including agricultural and urban areas. Although primarily found on the lower Andean slopes, they also enter intermontane valleys and occur up to 2800 meters. They are often in groups, in which they forage for seeds on the ground. Visually, they can be separated from other ground-doves by the black primaries, distinctive chestnut scapular bar, and orange-yellow color on the bill’s base. Furthermore, their call is distinctive and very undovelike: a harsh, creaking, "po-WEE-at".

15 cm; male 52 g, female 46 g. Head bluish grey becoming brownish grey on upperparts and darker on central tail  feathers; wing-coverts  pinkish grey with blue black spots; some innerwing coverts with purplish tips forming bar across upperwing; breast and underparts mauve pink; outer tail feathers black with narrow white tips; iris red with white outer ring, yellow orbital skin; bill longer than in other congeners, vivid yellow or golden-yellow near base, black near tip; feet pink. Female brown rather than bluish; wing markings as in male but less intense. Juvenile similar to female but with buffish tips to feathers.

Arid and semi-arid regions, subtropical scrub and riparian thickets; frequents farmland, gardens and parks. A ground-dwelling species. Sometimes ascends to 2400 m in Loja, SW Ecuador and Arequipa, Peru.

Resident. Accidental record at 2900 m.

Seeds taken from the ground . No further information available.

Song is a series of peculiar undovelike notes at a rate of c. 1 note per 2-4 seconds. Length of notes is much shorter than length of pauses. Notes are a burry low-pitched overslurred "rrRwl". Also some soft grunts and growls.

Nests found in all months except Sept–Oct in SW Ecuador, but season may be less prolonged away from human habitation; breeding commences 4–6 weeks after the first good rains. Nests in bushes or trees, sometimes on ground or on ledges of buildings, banks or low cliffs. Clutch usually 2 white eggs (1–3); incubation 14 days; fledging 10–11 days. Eggs c. 24·5 mm x 17·3 mm on average (n = 9); fresh weight c. 4·0 g (n = 7) (2 Ingels, J. and Greeney, H.F. (2011). A comparative look at the nest and eggs of the Ecuadorian and Croaking Ground-Doves (Columbina buckleyi and Columbina cruziana) in Ecuador. Bol. Soc. Antioqueña Orn.. 20(2): 56–60. Close ). Incubation period, 12–15 days; nestling period, 10–12 days (3 Knowlton, J. l. (2010). Breeding records from the Tumbesian region of Ecuador. Ornitología Neotropical 21(1):109–129. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Considered common through most of its range. Adapts successfully to anthropogenic habitats and is thought to be increasing, as such habitats become more widely available. Birds near human habitation appear to have a longer breeding season.