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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Pigeons and Doves (Order Columbiformes)

-Pigeons and Doves (Family Columbidae)

-Small Ground Doves (Genus Columbina)

-Inca Dove (Columbina inca)


Inca Dove is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. Pale sandy colour with scaly pattern covering entire body. Commonly found in pairs or small groups in neighbourhoods, parks, and scrubby desert habitats. Inca doves build their nests primarily in trees and shrubs. They eat seeds from grains, weeds, and grasses and will whisk their bill around in the dirt to uncover the seeds.

Inca Dove

Columbina inca

Diet

  • Primarily seeds of grasses, weeds, and other herbaceous plants.

  • Also feeds on small grains, cultivated seeds, and occasionally tiny insects.

  • Forages almost exclusively on the ground, often in pairs or small flocks.

Range

  • Found from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America to Costa Rica.

  • Widespread throughout much of Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a common year-round resident.

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, thorn scrub, woodland edges, agricultural areas, parks, gardens, villages, and urban environments.

Male / Female

  • Male: Warm grayish-brown plumage with a distinctive scaly appearance, reddish-brown wing feathers, long graduated tail with white outer edges, and reddish eyes. Slightly larger and often shows a pinkish wash on the breast.

  • Female: Very similar in appearance but generally slightly smaller and duller, with less pink on the breast.

  • Sexes are difficult to distinguish in the field except by subtle size differences or courtship behaviour.

Size

  • Length: 16–19 cm (6.3–7.5 in)

  • Wingspan: 27–30 cm (10.6–11.8 in)

  • Weight: 40–58 g

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