Species · GBIF taxon 2495863
Inca Dove
Columbina incaAlso known as Mexican Dove, Scaled Dove
Inca Doves are slender, desert-adapted birds easily recognized by their unique scaled plumage and long, white-edged tails. During cold winter mornings, they engage in a remarkable behavior called pyramid-stacking, where up to a dozen birds huddle on top of one another to conserve body heat. Their soft, monotonous cooing, which sounds like "no-hope," is a characteristic sound of southwestern suburbs and arid scrublands.
SocialDesertUrban
Licensed referenceHarmonyonPlanetEarth / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
- diet
- Seeds, grains, and occasionally small berries
- family
- Columbidae
- threats
- Domestic cats, urban pesticide use, and severe winter freezes
- life Span
- 3 to 6 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Listen for Takeoffs: Listen for a dry, paper-like rattling sound when they suddenly fly away.
- Provide Ground Feeders: Scatter fine seeds like millet directly on the ground to attract them.
- Watch for Pyramids: Look for stacked huddles on sunny branches during chilly winter mornings.