Ecuadorian ground dove

The Ecuadorian ground dove and three other species were for a time placed in genus Columbigallina, which was later merged into Columbina. It was also formerly treated as a subspecies of ruddy ground dove (C. talpacoti) and forms a superspecies with it now.[3]

The Ecuadorian ground dove has two subspecies, the nominate C. b. buckleyi and C. b. dorsti.[2]

The Ecuadorian ground dove is 18 cm (7.1 in) long and weighs about 57 g (2.0 oz). The male's forehead and face are grayish pink that darkens to a deep mauve pink on the breast and underparts. Its crown and nape are bluish gray and the upperparts brownish gray. The closed wing shows lines of black spots. The central tail feathers are gray and the rest black; the outermost have white tips. The female is browner than the male with less of a pink wash.[4]

The nominate subspecies of Ecuadorian ground dove is found from Esmeraldas Province in northwestern Ecuador south to Peru's far northern Department of Tumbes. C. b. dorsti is found separately, in the Marañon Valley of northwestern Peru.[2][4] They inhabit a range of landscapes including dry open semi-deciduous and deciduous woodland and thicker woodland, gardens, agricultural areas, and more humid young secondary forest. In elevation the species ranges from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).[4]

The IUCN has assessed the Ecuadorian ground dove as being of Least Concern.[1] Though it is thought to be fairly common, its "very small range and almost total lack of information regarding its biology indicate that at least some basic research is highly desirable."[4]