{{short description|Species of bird}} {{Use American English|date=September 2021}} {{Speciesbox | name = Croaking ground dove | image = Croaking Ground-Dove - Ecuador S4E9737.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |year=2024 |title=''Columbina cruziana'' |article-number=e.T22690799A263643499 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22690799A263643499.en}}</ref> | genus = Columbina | species = cruziana | authority = (Prévost, 1842) | synonyms = *''Eupelia cruziana'' *''Columbigallina cruziana'' | range_map = Columbina cruziana map.svg }}

The '''croaking ground dove''' ('''''Columbina cruziana''''') is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.<ref name=IOC11.2>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ |title=IOC World Bird List (v 11.2) |last1=Gill |first1= F. |last2=Donsker|first2=D.|last3=Rasmussen |first3=P. |date=July 2021 |access-date=July 14, 2021 }}</ref><ref name=CRGD-BOW>Baptista, L. F., P. W. Trail, H. M. Horblit, P. F. D. Boesman, E. de Juana, and E. F. J. Garcia (2020). Croaking Ground Dove (''Columbina cruziana''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.crgdov1.01 retrieved September 15, 2021</ref>

==Taxonomy and systematics==

The croaking ground dove and Picui ground dove (''Columbina picui'') are sometimes considered sister species.<ref name=SACClist>Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 24 August 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved August 24, 2021</ref> The croaking ground dove is monotypic.<ref name=IOC11.2/>

==Description==

The croaking ground dove is {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. Males weigh about {{convert|52|g|oz|abbr=on}} and females {{convert|46|g|oz|abbr=on}}. The adult male's head is bluish gray, and its upperparts brownish gray. The central tail feathers are darker gray, and the outer ones black with white tips. The closed wing shows a dark bar and lines of dark spots. 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 its base. The adult female's head is brown and the wing markings are less intense than the male's. Juveniles are similar to the female but their feathers have buffy tips.<ref name=CRGD-BOW/> thumb|A specimen beginning to take flight

==Distribution and habitat==

The croaking ground dove is found near the Pacific coast from Nariño Department in extreme southwestern Colombia through Ecuador and Peru to Chile's Tarapacá Region. Its range in Peru also includes the more inland Marañón Valley. It inhabits arid and semi-arid landscapes with scrub and riparian thickets, and is often found in farmland, gardens, and parks. Though it is mostly a bird of the lowlands, it can be found as high as {{convert|2400|m|ft|abbr=on}} in some areas.<ref name=CRGD-BOW/>

==Behavior== ===Feeding===

The croaking ground dove forages on the ground for seeds, but no details have been published.<ref name=CRGD-BOW/>

===Breeding===

The croaking ground dove has bred in every month but September and October in the human-inhabited areas of southwestern Ecuador, but might be shorter away from human settlement. The species usually nests in bushes or trees and has also been recorded to nest on the ground and on building ledges, earthen banks, and low cliffs. The clutch size can be one to three, but is usually two.<ref name=CRGD-BOW/>

===Vocalization===

{{birdsong|url=https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Columbina-cruziana |species=croaking ground dove}} The croaking ground dove's song is unlike that of any other dove, "a burry low-pitched overslurred ''rrRwl''. It also produces some soft grunts and growls.<ref name=CRGD-BOW/>

==Status==

The IUCN has assessed the croaking ground dove as being of Least Concern.<ref name=IUCN/> It appears to be common and increasing throughout its range, in part because it "[a]dapts successfully to anthropogenic habitats".<ref name=CRGD-BOW/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q775383}}

croaking ground dove Category:Birds of Ecuador Category:Birds of Peru croaking ground dove croaking ground dove Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot