Blue Ground Dove
Claravis pretiosa
A small tropical dove whose males are powder blue; it calls with a loud 'boop.'
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About the Blue Ground Dove
Blue ground doves are about 8 inches long and weigh about 2.4 ounces. Males are blue-gray with black spots on the wings; females are brown to cinnamon. They live in humid tropical areas from southeastern Mexico and the Caribbean to Peru and northern Argentina, often at forest edges, clearings and roadsides. They eat seeds and small insects found on the ground.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Claravis pretiosa[1]
- Size
- About 8 inches long.[1]
- Weight
- About 2.4 ounces.[1]
- Diet
- Seeds and small insects.[1]
- Habitat
- Humid tropical forest edges, clearings and roadsides.[1]
- Where it lives
- Southeastern Mexico and the Caribbean to Peru and northern Argentina.[1]
- Group life
- Often alone; sometimes in pairs or small groups.[1]
- Babies
- 2 white eggs, incubated for about two weeks.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2019).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- dove
- A small pigeon.
- tropical
- In the warm region near the equator.
- incubate
- To keep eggs warm so they can hatch.
- clutch
- A group of eggs laid at one time.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Blue ground dove.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/blue-ground-dove (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Claravis pretiosa (Blue Ground Dove).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22690809/139734486 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Facts last checked 2026-10-08.
