Inca Dove

Columbina inca

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S2?

• Reason: Although this species is a rare permanent resident in southern Washington County, where it is known to nest in Washington, it appears to be increasing in abundance in the state and is generally favored by human alterations of habitat.

External links

• NatureServe species report
• Google image search
• Google web search

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General information

The Inca dove, Columbina inca, occurs in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. The species is rare in Utah, but seems to be increasing in numbers in the southwestern corner of the state; it is known to nest in Washington County. The Inca dove is a non-migratory species that prefers open habitats, such as scrublands, farmlands, and parks, in arid areas.

A nest of plant material is built in a tree, shrub, or cactus. The female lays a clutch of two eggs; the eggs are incubated by both parents for about two weeks. The young can fly at about two weeks of age. Inca dove pairs may produce several broods per year. The Inca dove eats seeds and grains.

Species range

In Utah this species is only known to nest in Washington, Washington County, where the first nesting record for the state was documented in 1994 (Hedges 1996; see also Kreitzer 1996).

Habitat

Although specific habitat information for this species in Utah is lacking, all known nesting records in this state are from Washington, presumably in residential neighborhoods, where Kreitzer (1996) mentioned nests in trees. Most other Utah records (non-breeding) are apparently also fom towns (e.g., Parowan, Kanab, Moab, Santa Clara, Bloomington, and Hurricane), although there are non-breeding records from rural areas (e.g., Beaver Dam Wash and Beaver Dam Slope) as well (see Hedges 1996).

Food habits

Feeds on the ground on small seeds and waste grains.

Ecology

Gathers into flocks of up to 50 individuals in fall and winter; seen singly or in pairs during summer (Terres 1980). Groups may huddle together on cold days in winter in north. In Mexico, had linear breeding territories in riparian area of 0.2-0.5 hectares (Johnson 1960).

Reproductive characteristics

Clutch size 2. Incubation by both sexes, 13-14 days. Young fledge in 14-16 days. Parents may raise 4-5 broods/year.

Threats or limiting factors

This species seems to be favored by many human modifications of habitat and does well in urban areas and to a lesser extent in agricultural areas. There appear to be few threats to the species in Utah.

References

• Biotics Database. 2005. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, NatureServe, and the network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers.
• Peterson, R. T., and V. M. Peterson. 1990. A field guide to western birds, 3rd ed. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 432 pp.