About Claravis pretiosa (Ferrari-Pérez, 1886)
Blue ground doves, scientifically Claravis pretiosa, are small pigeons measuring 20 cm in length and weighing 65–72 g. Adult males have blue-grey upperparts and paler grey underparts, with grey-white colouring on the face. Their flight feathers and outer tail feathers are blackish, and their wings bear bold black spots that often form distinct bands. Males have a red or yellow iris, a green bare eyering, and flesh-pink legs. Females have grey-brown heads, necks, and breasts, with pale blue-grey colouring on the underwings and belly. Females have a ruddy brown back that contrasts with their chestnut rump and tail, and their wing spots are chestnut-brown. Young birds resemble females, but have ruddy scaling on the back. Across most of this species' range, males are unlikely to be confused with other species, though they may be locally confused with members of the genus Paraclaravis. Females also resemble females of Paraclaravis genus members, but at most locations they are more often confused with female ruddy ground doves, which are smaller and have blackish rather than chestnut-brown wing markings. In most regions where blue ground doves live, a blue-grey and a brown bird flying through trees together will almost always be this species. The blue ground dove is relatively common in open woodland, forest edges, clearings, and roadsides, especially in more humid areas. It occurs from sea level up to around 1200 m in altitude. It builds a flimsy dish-shaped nest made of twigs 1–11 m high in a tree, and lays two white eggs.
