Mexican dove
The Inca dove or Mexican dove (Columbina inca ) is a small New World dove. The species was first described by French surgeon and naturalist René Lesson in 1847. It reaches a length of 16.5–23 cm (6.5–9.1 in) and weighs 30–58 g (1.1–2.0 oz). The Inca dove has an average wingspan of 28.5 cm and a max wingspan of 32 cm. It is a slender species, with a gray-brown body covered in feathers that resemble a scaled pattern. The tail is long and square and edged with white feathers that may flare out in flight. The underwings are reddish, like other ground doves, and upon takeoff, the wings produce a distinctive, quiet rattling noise.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe small Inca dove is a unique looking New World dove. Each feather has two tones of gray, the main part being light gray and the tip a darker gray, which gives the bird a scaly look. Its tail is edged with white feathers. In flight, this dove fans out the tail, so the white edges can be seen. In flight, the chestnut wing patches can also be seen. Juveniles look similar to their parents but lack the scaled edges to their feathers and have yellow eyes instead of dark red, and they also lack chestnut colored primaries.
The Inca dove inhabits the southwestern part of the United States and Mexico, and across Central America on the Pacific side to Costa Rica. It lives in residential areas (cities, towns, lawns, parks, farmhouses, etc.), thorn forests, and savanna, and usually only in arid and semiarid habitats, as it has a low tolerance for cold.
Inca doves are most often found in small flocks or pairs. They spend most of their time on the ground eating seeds and grains. They are sensitive to cold and have developed several behaviors to help them survive, such as roosting close several other doves, forming a pyramid in a sheltered sunny site, facing downwind, huddling with feathers fluffed up, wing to wing, one bird on the back of another. They may form pyramids of two or three rows for about an hour. They will also sun themselves by raising one wing and rolling a little to one side. Then they roll back and lift the other wing. An Inca dove can also lower its body temperature, thus avoiding the effects of cold temperatures at night. These birds have a rapid, jerky flight. Their wings create a quiet rattling noise on take-off. Usually their coo-cooing song is heard when they are up on a high branch. Even while other birds are not making any noise, they continue to coo, to advertise their territories.
Inca doves are herbivores (granivores), they eat mainly seeds, grains, fruit, and insects.
Inca doves are monogamous and pairs are believed to mate for life. When courting, the male struts, bows, bobs his head, and coos to the female. He keeps his tail vertical while fanning his tail feathers, showing off his black and white markings. An intruding male may be challenged to fight. Then the two males crouch in front of one another and make growling sounds, before battling for the female. Inca doves will breed and build nests year round. The male brings grasses and twigs for the female to make the nest, a fragile platform of sticks woven loosely together, lined with grasses. It may be high up in a thorny bush or a tree. 2 eggs are laid, and incubated by both parents for 12-14 days. Young are fed “pigeon milk” (crop milk) for a few days. Parents brood the hatchling for 7-9 days, the young leaving the nest after 12-16 days. Then the parents start another brood while the young join up with a flock of juveniles. These doves may have several broods each year if conditions are favorable.
At this time the Inca dove does not face any threats.
According to the What Bird resource, the total population size of the Inca dove is around 2 million individuals. According to the All About Birds resource, the total breeding population size of the species is 3 million individuals, 33% of these living in the U.S., while 61% are in Mexico. Overall, currently Inca doves are classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and their numbers today are increasing.
The Inca dove plays an important role in the ecosystem it lives in. Through its eating habits this species disperses seeds.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...