[3] The Alectroenas blue pigeons are closely interrelated and occur widely throughout islands in the western Indian Ocean.

[7] Their closest genetic relative is the cloven-feathered dove, Drepanoptila holosericea, of New Caledonia, which they separated from 8–9 million years ago.

[8] Their ancestral group appears to be the fruit doves (Ptilinopus) of Southeast Asia and Oceania.

It is most similar to that of the Gallicolumba ground doves or to a miniature version of the sternum of a Ducula imperial pigeon.

Dubois' description is as follows: "...wild pigeons, everywhere full with them, some with slaty-coloured feathering, the others russet-red.