Bird
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
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrass Seeds, Waste Grain, Weed Seeds
Predators
- Domestic Cats
- Cooper's Hawks
- Feral Cats
ThreatsDomestic cats, urban pesticide use, and severe winter freezes
HabitatsArid scrublands, suburban parks, agricultural fields, and desert oases
Life span3 to 6 years
Classification
- FamilyColumbidae
- SpeciesColumbina inca
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Frequent Companion (c) Paul Danese, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Co-habitant (c) MarvalPhotography19, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by MarvalPhotography19 · cc-by
Close Relative JeffreyGammon / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Dario Sanches, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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