By Janae Gatchell
Geographic Range
The Inca dove (Columbina inca) is found in the southwestern United States and in northern Central America. However, its range has been expanding both north and south primarily due to its association with human dwellings. It has been found with some Native American tribes still living in relatively undeveloped settings (Mueller, 1992).
Biogeographic Regions:
nearctic 
(native ); neotropical (native ).
Habitat
(9840 ft)
The Inca dove inhabits residential areas (cities, towns, farmhouses, lawns, parks, etc.), thornforests, and savanna (Rappole, 2000). It is usually restricted to arid and semiarid habitats due to its low tolerance for cold (Mueller,1992).
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial .
Terrestrial Biomes:
desert or dune ; chaparral ; scrub forest .
Other:
urban ; suburban ; agricultural .
Physical Description
(1.06 to 2.04 oz; avg. 1.55 oz)
(3.35 in)
(11.22 in)
A small, brownish-gray dove with a scaly appearance due to dark feather tips. It is buffy on the underside and has a long rounded tail with white outer tail feathers. Legs and feet are pinkish gray and the beak goes from gray to black coming out from the face. In flight, rusty red wing feathers are obvious. It is very similar to the ground dove, but the ground dove lacks the overall scaly appearance and has a square tail. Males and females very similar, as are juvenile and adult, except the adult iris is dark red and the juvenile iris is pale yellow. It has been noted that Columbina inca may be darker in southern areas. (Rappole, 2000; Mueller, 1992)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
year round
There is little information about the Inca dove's mating system but monogamy appears to be the prevalent system. Courtship displays and mate guarding are common in the Inca dove. Early courtship displays by males, such as head bobbing and mounting, help to distinguish the sexes. The female will return the head bob and ignore the mounting, whereas the male will not return the head bob and will dislodge the mount. Mutual preening is abundant and continous throughout the breeding period. Once a breeding territory is established more intensive displays such as tail fanning and calling are prevalent and may be cues to start breeding (Mueller, 1992).
Mating systems:
monogamous .
The Inca dove is a year round breeder and nest builder. The male will bring the material to the nest and climb on the back of the female to deliver it. The female then builds the nest (Johnston, 1960). Copulation continues during this time and nests will be reused. Most construction takes place in the morning and for a duration of about three consecutive days (Mueller, 1992). They will build their nest in a wide variety of trees and shrubs but also use human structures such as houses and utility poles (Mueller, 1992).
Eggs have an incubation period of 13-15 days. The adults brood for 7-9 days and the hatchlings leave the nest in 12-16 days (Mueller, 1992).
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (internal ); oviparous .
Both parents take turns incubating the nest with the male sitting midday and the female sitting from late afternoon to the following midmorning (Mueller, 1992). Once the chicks have hatched it is assumed that like all Columbidae, milk produced in the crop of both parents is fed to the young (Riddle, 1963). This "pigeon milk" is the exclusive diet of the young for the first few days and has a very high fat and protein content. It does not contain carbohydrates or calcium so other solid food is also consumed (Perrins and Middleton, 1985). However, the amount of milk fed remains the same until the young are well grown. After the family leaves the nest they will usually roost together for about a week. During this time parental care continues but will cease when the adults renest. At this time the young leave the territory and join groups of other immatures (Mueller, 1992).
Parental investment:
altricial ; male parental care ; female parental care .
Lifespan/Longevity
Columbia inca have a typical lifespan of 2-3 years however one banded individual has reached an age of 7 years and 9 months (Mueller, 1992). There is no information on their longevity in captivity.
Behavior
The Inca dove spends its time foraging, roosting and sunning. In cold weather it will build living pyramids with other members by grouping together and standing on one another's backs. These pyramids will periodically collaspe and reform with different members on the interior. They can be social or territorial during feeding and display heavy defending of the territory during the breeding season (Mueller, 1992).
Key behaviors:
flies; motile ; sedentary ; solitary ; territorial ; social .
Food Habits
Inca doves can be seen foraging almost entirely on the ground in short vegetation. They are also frequent guests at household bird feeders. They eat seeds from grains, weeds, and grasses and will whisk their bill around in the dirt to uncover the seeds. They will forage individualy or in flocks of more than 100 birds, with the largest groupings in the late afternoon. They will also feed with poultry. They need to imbibe 9% of their body mass in water every day. This is accomplished by drinking from pools, dripping faucets or by eating moist fruits on cacti or hydrants (Mueller, 1992).
Plant Foods:
seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit.
Predation
- domestic cats (Felis silvestris)
- blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata)
- raccoons (Procyon lotor)
- ringtails (Bassariscus astutus)
Inca doves will roost on small branches out of the reach of predators and the pyramiding for warmth may offer some protection. Incubating adults are not scared away from their nest very easily and they do no distraction displays (Mueller, 1992).
Ecosystem Roles
Columbina inca, through its eating habits disperses seed.
Key ways these animals impact their ecosystem:
disperses seeds.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Inca doves can be infected with Chlamydia psittaci that can also infect domestic turkeys. Doves feeding with domestic turkeys can also carry salmonella bacteria and three kinds of lice (Mueller, 1992).
Ways that these animals might be a problem for humans:
causes or carries domestic animal disease .
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The presence of Inca doves provides aesthetic enjoyment to bird watchers.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Least Concern.
US Migratory Bird Act: [link]:
Protected.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
State of Michigan List: [link]:
No special status.
The Inca dove is not in danger of becoming extinct. In fact, its range is growing. This is primarily due to coexistence with humans.
Contributors
Janae Gatchell (author), University of Arizona.
Todd McWhorter (editor), University of Arizona.
