General
Inca Dove: Small dove with scaled, pale gray-brown upperparts, white throat, and scaled, pale buff (often with pink wash) underparts. Tail is long and squared with a black-bordered gray center and edged in white. Sexes are similar.
Range and Habitat
Inca Dove: Resident from southwest U.S. to tropical America. Frequents open country with scattered trees or scrubby growth, generally in arid or semi-arid locations around cultivated areas, farmlands, parks, and gardens.
Breeding and Nesting
Inca Dove: Two to seven white eggs are laid in a nest made of twigs, stems, and leaves, lined with grass, and built from 5 to 20 feet above the ground in a tree or shrub. Incubation ranges from 12 to 15 days and is carried out by both parents.
Foraging and Feeding
Inca Dove: Eats small dried seeds; forages on the ground.
Vocalization
Inca Dove: Song is a monotonous, fluted "coe-coo", "whoo-oo-whoo", or "no-hope"; also "cut-cut-ca-doo-ca-doo."
Similar Species
Inca Dove: Common Ground-dove is shorter-tailed, has dark spots on wings, and only appears scaled on head and breast.