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Why do some ground-nesting quail doves lay brown or cream-colored eggs instead of white eggs?
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Columbiform
Domestic pigeon (Columba livia)
Some ground-nesting pigeons, such as certain species of quail doves, lay brown or cream-colored eggs as an evolutionary adaptation to reduce the risk of predation. Because white eggs are particularly conspicuous and attractive to predators, these darker or earth-toned colors provide better camouflage for nests located on the ground.1