About Columbina cruziana (Prévost, 1842)
The croaking ground dove, scientifically named Columbina cruziana (Prévost, 1842), measures 15 cm (5.9 in) in length. Males weigh approximately 52 g (1.8 oz), while females weigh around 46 g (1.6 oz). Adult males have a bluish gray head and brownish gray upperparts. Their central tail feathers are darker gray, and outer tail feathers are black with white tips. A dark bar and lines of dark spots are visible on the closed wing. 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 the base. Adult females have a brown head, and their wing markings are less intense than those of males. Juveniles are similar in appearance to adult females, but their feathers have buffy tips. This species is found near the Pacific coast, ranging from Nariño Department in extreme southwestern Colombia through Ecuador and Peru to Chile's Tarapacá Region. In Peru, its range also extends to the more inland Marañón Valley. It inhabits arid and semi-arid landscapes that contain scrub and riparian thickets, and it is commonly found in farmland, gardens, and parks. Though it mostly occurs in lowland areas, it can be found at elevations as high as 2,400 m (7,900 ft) in some locations.
