Their feathers have a scaled look to them that encompasses their entire body, unlike other semi-scaled birds such as the California Quail. Their soft call and mild manners makes them a pleasant addition to the typical batch of Southwestern birds one might see making a ruckus about the feeders, and they're certainly my favorite dove.
I like their eyes. Unlike other, larger doves who seem to always have that vacant stare, the Inca Dove eyes seem to have a slight glimmer of kindness and gentleness behind them. With their gray dimpled plumage and endearing politeness, these are grandma birds if there is such a thing.
I found this nice pair at the Gilbert Water Ranch on Saturday. They were being very cozy-cuddly and didn't seem to mind the interlopers as they scratched and stretched away the remnants of their afternoon nap.
They are a sweet little dove, so much smaller than their cousins. They have such a pretty reddish brown flash of color under their wings when they fly.
ReplyDeleteThey're cuties. I like the rusty flash too, and I also like that they're not as out-in-out spastic as the mourning doves when they take off. They like to stay put and stay closer to the ground. The Mourning Doves carry on making all kinds of noise and scaring other birds away too.
DeleteWhat beautiful doves Laurence!
ReplyDeleteThey're charming. Do they ever stray into Utah?
DeleteI used to get Inca Doves below my backyard feeders when I lived in Mesa. You got it right about being mild mannered cute little doves. I miss them.
ReplyDeleteWell they're waiting for your return Mr. Mortensen!
DeleteQuite an intriguing bird! Excellent captures; I particularly like the first one! Eye catching eye ring!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tammy. They don't have the color splashes that many other birds bring, but they still have a unique charm. As you mention, that bit of accented red in the eye is very grasping. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThese guys are gorgeous, and you captured their colors and contrast perfectly. Well done and thanks for sharing, I hope to see these some day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dan. One other nice attribute of the Inca Dove that I did not previously mention is that they sit still better than just about any other dove, and most birds in general.
DeleteLaurence - I love your titles - Inca Bink, and Lemme Teal You...! Have you ever seen the Incas stack on top of each other in cold weather? I would so love to get a photo of that.
ReplyDeleteHa thank you Peggy. It was great to meet you at the Water Ranch on Saturday. I've never seen the famed Inca pile, though I've seen 4 or five squeezed pretty tight onto one branch. That seems like an ideal way to snuggle up to me--I wouldn't mind having some beanbag-sized Inca Doves. I guess their poo might become problematic...
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