Inca Dove Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesInca Dove
Small, slender dove with a small head and a long tail. Pale sandy gray overall with dark feather tips creating a scaled appearance.
© Graham Montgomery / Macaulay LibraryTexas, December 04, 2017Small, slender dove with a long, narrow tail. Gray upperparts with extensive dark scaling pattern. Outer tail feathers are white (prominent in flight).
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 04, 2020During courtship males often stick their tail straight up in the air while fanning it.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 06, 2021Not all videos have sound
Feeds mainly on open ground often near cover. In flight, shows bright chestnut patches in the wings and white outer tail feathers.
© Graham Montgomery / Macaulay LibraryTexas, December 04, 2017Occurs in dry open areas with scattered trees and shrubs. Nests in trees and takes refuge in trees when disturbed, but does not occur in forests.
© Matt Brady / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, April 04, 2017Walks along the ground picking at seeds from grasses, flowers, and shrubs as well as from bird feeders.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryApril 01, 1998Not all videos have sound
© Van Remsen / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, September 17, 2018
© Tony Leukering / Macaulay LibraryTexas, January 01, 2021
Walks along the ground pushing the head forward with each step. Forages on the ground singly or in groups gently picking at the ground for seeds and grains.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 23, 2008Not all videos have sound
Often forages in groups, typically on bare ground in grassy areas where they pick at grains and seeds.
© Paul Suchanek / Macaulay LibraryArizona, December 09, 2016Similar SpeciesMourning Dove
Adult
Mourning Doves are larger than Inca Doves and have a long tapered tail scalloped in white. Mourning Doves lack the scaled appearance of Inca Doves.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 08, 2014Similar SpeciesCommon Ground Dove
Adult/immature
Common Ground-Doves lack the Inca Dove's scaled back; they also have shorter tails with much less white in them than Inca Doves. Common Ground-Doves also have dark brown spots on their wings.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryOlancho, January 19, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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