Deceptive Name and Secret Weapon

• Egidio Leitao


In a previous post, I outlined the differences between Mourning Doves and Inca Doves. Today, I want to offer more details about this lovely bird.

Their name, Inca Dove (Columbina Inca), is deceptive because the species does not live in the lands once part of the Inca Empire. They are found from Costa Rica to the North American Southwest. Other names sometimes used for them include Mexican Dove and Scaly Dove. The latter can easily be seen based on their appearance. According to Wikipedia, these doves can reach a length of 6.5–9.1 in (16.5–23 cm) and weigh 1.1-2.0 oz (30–58 g). Their average wingspan can vary from 11.2-12.6 in (28.5-32 cm).

These little doves may look inconspicuous, but they have a hidden trick and secret weapon up their wings. When they take flight, their wings produce a surprisingly loud, rattling sound that can startle predators. This sound is different from that made by Mourning Doves. According to the Cornell Lab All About Birds website, the sound is “like running a finger rapidly over a fanned deck of cards.” On that site, you can also hear an Inca Dove song.


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19 thoughts on “Deceptive Name and Secret Weapon”

  5. Lovely photos. I understand that their range has been steadily expanding to the north. I even see a report of a sighting in Canada north of Lake Superior!

  6. I.J., thanks for your feedback. Yes, in one of the articles I read, it mentioned some of these doves being taken to Florida, but they haven’t see any signs of them spreading there. Now, I’m curious about your findings regarding Canada. I’ll do some research, too.

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