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Despite being named after the Inca Empire, this species does not occur
in any of the lands that formerly constituted that region.
Inca Doves are sensitive to cold and have developed several behaviors
for survival:
- During the day they may roost in close proximity forming a pyramid
in order to keep warm. They huddle with their feathers fluffed, wing
to wing, one on the back of the other facing downwind in a sheltered
sunny site. They may form two or three row pyramids for about 1 hour.
- In winter, Inca Doves will sun themselves as a group. They will raise
one wing, partly fanned, and roll slightly to one side. After a short
time they roll back and begin to preen. They may repeat this pattern
2 to 4 times.
- Hypothermia (lowering body temperature) is used to avoid effects of
cold at night.
Roost alone or, more commonly, in pairs or groups in evergreen and deciduous
trees and shrubs and on buildings. When in pairs or groups, huddle wing
to wing; some may roost on the backs of others.
Early courtship of low intensity and easily interrupted, e.g., "Head
Bobbing:" bird raises its head followed by an abrupt downward movement;
bill held almost horizontally and bobbing repeated many times. Early in
the season males bob at females and other males. Females reciprocate but
males do not-probably an important part of sex recognition, as males do
not recognize females except by their response to ritual behavior.
Male gathers nesting material and brings it to female at the nest site;
she builds the nest. Female gathers some material. When bringing nesting
material the male lands, walks to the female, and climbs on her back.
At the midscapular region he passes the material to the female or lays
it by her side. This appears to be an important ritual, as even the route
to the female tends to be the same each trip. One male brought 12 items
in 12 minutes.
In addition to trees and shrubs, also nest in palm fronds and hanging
fern baskets, on vines and utility poles, on houses, pipe posts, dead
trees, and a rose arbor; and on a trolley wire that was raised every 7
min by the street car.
One or two false nests sometimes built before the final nest. Nest often
exposed to direct sun from above but incubating adult usually protects
contents.
Both parents produce and feed crop milk ("pigeon milk") to
the young from hatching. Young place their bill into the parent's mouth
to receive the milk, the complete diet of the nestlings for the first
few days of life. As the young grow, increasing amounts of other food
items are mixed with the milk, but the quantity of milk fed remains relatively
constant until the young are well grown.
No nest sanitation; excrement-reinforced nests frequently used in more
than one breeding season. One nest used 11 times over 4 years. Frequently
use the nests of other birds: White-throated Towhee, Mourning Dove, Northern
Mockingbird, Cactus Wren, and Northern Cardinal.
Eyes become bright red when excited.
One dove call, coo-coo, given all year, frequently represented as the
words "no hope". "No hope" call frequently repeated
for long periods throughout the day.
Because they fly directly to water, with no searching about, early west
travelers would often watch doves to locate water holes.
Birdbaths and other pools are used for bathing. Head lowered to put water
on the nape and back; wings, body feathers, and tail spread and shaken
to distribute and remove the water.
These doves flock when not on territory; in good feeding areas flocks
of 100 or more. Within these large flocks there are subunits of 10-40
that loaf and forage together. Song may help keep flocks together as there
is a round of calling every 30-40 min. Wing sound may help also. In the
breeding season they forage as individuals, pairs, or family groups.
All you have to do is count doves to help scientists learn more about
them!
- Go to Dove Detectives
to find out more.
Read more about Inca
Doves at All About Birds.
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