Inca Dove is the smallest of the 5 species of doves found
in Fort Bend. Margaret’s photo feature this month shows the deep peach to
rusty underside of the Inca Dove’s wing, which is unusual to see when the bird
is not in flight. Early
settlers in Texas watched all species of doves because they fly directly to
water holes and helped settlers locate precious water.
Inca is also the most “scaly” of the doves and sometimes has the bluish cast of the photo above. As ground foragers doves like seeds, scattered on the
ground or on platform feeders. You'll find them under feeders picking up the dropped seeds.
They may perch even on top of the feeder, but will not be successful in "using" the feeder. The "fish scales" contrast with the smooth texture of the Mourning Dove below.
While other doves are throughout the US and North America, Incas
are confined to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona as well as Mexico and the Pacific
side of Costa Rica. Sensitive to cold, they form pyramids that may
have up to 12 birds with 3 or 4 at the bottom and pyramid up.
Margaret has photographed 5 species of doves in her Quail Valley backyard alone: Rock Doves,White-winged Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves along with Incas and Mourning Doves. Select this link and scroll for pictures in Birds of Quail Valley.
Photos copyrighted by Quail Valley resident and international birder Margaret Sloan. View her international and national bird pictures by pressing this link.
See a bird you don't recognize in Fort Bend? Margaret has photographed 130+ bird species just in her suburban backyard alone. Narrow your initial search by viewing her full photo album of local birds, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link. They are organized by types of birds, so if it's a water bird for example, you may find one that helps you narrow your search. Then if you "google in" the name of the bird, you'll get info and all kinds of information and images. Sometimes if a species is remarkably different from adult you may find nothing, contact us and we'll do our best to help.
Researched and posted by Janice Scanlan
Comments