Bird Guide

Blue Ground Dove vs Scaled Pigeon

Blue Ground Dove (Claravis pretiosa)

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

Medium68 gForest

Blue ground doves are small pigeons, 20 cm long with a weight of 65–72 g. Adult males have blue-grey upperparts and paler grey underparts, becoming grey-white on the face. The flight feathers and outer tail feathers are blackish, and the wings are boldly spotted black (these spots often forming distinct bands). The iris is red or yellow, the bare eyering is green, and the legs are flesh-pink. The female has a grey-brown head neck and breast, becoming pale blue-grey on the underwings and belly. The back is ruddy brown, contrasting with the chestnut rump and tail.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Blue Ground Dove
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Zamora-Chinchipe: below La Cruz, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Facundo Chieffo · CC BY 4.0
Scaled Pigeon (Patagioenas speciosa)

Scaled Pigeon

Patagioenas speciosa

Medium258 gForest

The scaled pigeon is 36 cm (14 in) long and weighs normally about 290 g (10 oz). Adult males have mainly purple brown plumage, with a paler scaly appearance to the neck and underparts. The lower underparts are whitish edged with purple. The eyering, legs and bill are red, the latter having a white tip. The female is dull dark brown rather than purplish, and is slightly smaller than the male. Scaled pigeons feed mainly on forest fruits and seeds. Birds have also been seen to feed on fresh green leaves and sometimes crops.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Aitor · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blue Ground Dove and Scaled Pigeon.