It is a resident breeder from southeastern Mexico to northwestern Peru and northern Argentina, and on Trinidad in the Caribbean.

The blue ground dove is relatively common in open woodland, forest edges, clearings and roadsides, especially in more humid areas.

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.

In most regions where the blue ground dove occurs, a blue-grey and a brown bird flying through the trees together is bound to be this species.

The genus Claravis was introduced in 1899 by the American ornithologist Harry C. Oberholser with the blue ground dove as the type species.