Birdwatcher’s Guide: Identifying Inca Dove vs Mourning Dove

Distinguished by their avian elegance, the Inca Dove and the Mourning Dove are captivating members of the Columbidae family. These doves, each with its unique traits and adaptations, have intrigued bird enthusiasts and researchers alike.

From the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States to the woodlands spanning North America, these doves have carved their niches in varying ecosystems.

Their appearances, behaviors, and vocalizations unveil a world of avian diversity, showcasing their seamless integration into their chosen habitats.

This exploration delves into the remarkable differences that define the Inca Dove and the Mourning Dove, shedding light on their roles in shaping their environments.

Key Differences Between Inca Dove and Mourning Dove

Here’s a comparison table highlighting the main differences between the Inca Dove and the Mourning Dove:

Size

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove is noticeably smaller than its counterpart, the Mourning Dove. With a compact build, it occupies a diminutive presence in its habitat. This smaller size enables the Inca Dove to navigate through the arid and desert-like landscapes it typically inhabits, where resources might be more limited.
• Mourning Dove: Comparatively, the Mourning Dove boasts a medium-sized stature, larger than the Inca Dove. Its body is more substantial, allowing it to cover larger distances during its graceful and gliding flights. This size advantage is beneficial for its widespread distribution, encompassing diverse habitats beyond arid regions.

Coloration

• Inca Dove: The coloration of the Inca Dove is characterized by a soft and pale brown hue, which harmonizes with the arid and desert-like landscapes it often occupies. This muted color serves as effective camouflage against the sandy and rocky terrain, providing a level of protection from predators.
  Notably, the Inca Dove may exhibit rufous primaries that become visible during flight or displays. This variation in coloration adds a touch of contrast to its overall appearance.
• Mourning Dove: In contrast, the Mourning Dove displays a more intricate color palette. Its body is predominantly brown, with an elegant touch of blue-gray on its wings.
  This distinctive wing coloration sets it apart and aids in identification. The combination of brown and blue-gray hues creates a subtle yet striking contrast that complements its graceful demeanor and adds to its overall aesthetic appeal.

Upper Body

• Inca Dove: The upper body of the Inca Dove presents a unique scaled appearance. This scaled texture lends it a textured and intricate look that helps it blend into its surroundings.
  The scaled upper body, coupled with its pale brown coloration, contributes to its effective camouflage strategy in arid and rocky habitats.
  This feature showcases the Inca Dove’s adaptation to its environment, allowing it to navigate through its chosen ecosystem with finesse.
• Mourning Dove: Conversely, the upper body of the Mourning Dove is characterized by a more uniform and smooth appearance. The brown coloration extends evenly across its body, contrasting with the blue-gray wings.
  This uniformity aligns with the Mourning Dove’s adaptable nature, allowing it to thrive in a wide range of environments, including woodlands, urban areas, and agricultural fields.

Tail

• Inca Dove: The tail of the Inca Dove is slender and possesses white sides, contributing to its distinct appearance.
  The tail’s slender structure is well-suited for maneuvering through tight spaces and navigating its arid habitat. The presence of white on the tail’s sides adds a visual element that enhances its overall allure.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s tail is a defining feature, characterized by its length and pointed shape. This long tail, coupled with its streamlined body, aids in its agile flight and graceful gliding capabilities.
  The pointed tail allows for precise control during flight and contributes to the Mourning Dove’s ability to cover significant distances in search of food and suitable habitats.

Tail Display

• Inca Dove: During displays or flight, the Inca Dove may reveal its rufous primaries, creating a captivating spectacle.
  This display of color adds a dynamic element to its appearance, particularly during interactions with other doves or potential mates. The visible rufous hue serves as both a communication tool and a visually appealing trait.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s tail display is less focused on color and more on its form. Its pointed tail becomes especially noticeable during flight, contributing to its characteristic graceful gliding.
  The tail’s elongated structure enhances its aerodynamic capabilities, allowing the Mourning Dove to navigate various terrains with precision and elegance.

Call

• Inca Dove: The call of the Inca Dove is a distinctive feature that sets it apart. It emits a soft and melodious cooing sound, often described as “noo-oo, coo-coo.”
  This unique call resonates through the arid and desert-like environments it inhabits, becoming a characteristic sound of these regions.
  The call serves various purposes, including communication with mates and marking territory. Its soft and repetitive nature creates a calming ambiance in its arid habitat.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s call is renowned for its mournful and soothing quality. Its cooing is a soft, drawn-out series of notes, creating a melancholic yet comforting sound that can be heard in various habitats across North America.
  This evocative call has earned the bird its common name. It serves as a form of communication between individuals and can indicate the presence of these doves even when they are not immediately visible.

Habitat

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove is closely associated with arid and desert-like habitats. It thrives in environments characterized by dry conditions, sparse vegetation, and sandy or rocky terrain. These habitats include deserts, semi-arid regions, and scrublands.
  The Inca Dove’s adaptation to these challenging environments includes its muted coloration, scaled upper body, and slender tail, which collectively allow it to navigate and find resources in its chosen habitat.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove exhibits a more versatile habitat preference. It can be found in a range of environments, including woodlands, grasslands, urban areas, and agricultural fields.
  This adaptability is reflected in its soft coloration and smooth body texture, allowing it to blend into diverse surroundings. The Mourning Dove’s presence in both rural and urban spaces highlights its ability to coexist with human activities.

Range

• Inca Dove: The range of the Inca Dove extends primarily through the southwestern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America. Its distribution is more localized compared to the Mourning Dove, reflecting its affinity for specific arid habitats.
  The Inca Dove’s range showcases its specialization in adapting to desert ecosystems and its role within those delicate environments.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove boasts a vast and extensive range across North America. From Canada to Mexico, these doves can be encountered in a variety of landscapes and climates.
  Their ability to thrive in different regions speaks to their resilience and adaptability. Mourning Doves demonstrate a wider ecological flexibility, allowing them to occupy numerous niches within their expansive range.

Feeding Habits

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s diet consists mainly of seeds, complemented by a penchant for small insects. In its arid habitat, where food sources might be limited, this diet serves as an effective survival strategy.
  The consumption of seeds and insects provides the necessary nutrients for sustenance, and its ground-feeding behavior allows it to access these resources efficiently.
• Mourning Dove: Mourning Doves are primarily granivorous, meaning their diet centers around seeds and grains. They forage on the ground for a variety of seeds, including those from grasses, weeds, and cultivated plants.
  This diet aligns with their adaptability to diverse habitats, where they can find an array of seed sources. Their feeding habits have earned them a reputation as agricultural pests in certain regions.

Behavior

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s behavior is marked by its ground-feeding tendencies and exploration on foot. It often travels in pairs or small groups, searching for seeds and insects.
  Its social behavior becomes evident in its interactions with conspecifics during foraging and roosting. The Inca Dove’s call and behaviors reflect its connection to the arid landscapes it calls home.
• Mourning Dove: Mourning Doves exhibit a range of behaviors, from ground-feeding to perching on wires or branches. While they are known to feed on the ground, they also display perching behaviors, often on elevated structures.
  Mourning Doves can be solitary or congregate in larger flocks, depending on factors such as food availability and nesting activities. Their varied behaviors reflect their adaptability to different environments.

Wing Color

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s wings are often a subdued shade that complements its overall pale brown coloration. While its wings might not be as striking as those of the Mourning Dove, they blend seamlessly with its arid habitat.
  This subdued wing color serves as another element of camouflage, helping the dove avoid detection by predators in the desert landscape.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s wings are characterized by an elegant blue-gray hue, which stands out against its brown body. This contrast creates a visually striking appearance during flight and adds to the bird’s overall beauty.
  The blue-gray wings are an identifying feature of the Mourning Dove, contributing to its charm and ease of recognition.

Tail Shape

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s tail is slender and may be slightly squared off at the tip. This tail shape is well-suited for the dove’s ground-feeding behavior and its ability to maneuver through tight spaces in arid environments. The tail’s shape contributes to the Inca Dove’s agility and flexibility as it navigates its chosen habitat.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s tail is one of its most distinguishing features. It is long and pointed, creating a graceful and streamlined appearance.
  This tail shape enhances the dove’s flight capabilities, allowing it to glide smoothly through the air. The elongated tail contributes to the dove’s agility and contributes to its elegant presence.

Tail White Edges

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s tail feathers often feature white edges on the sides. These white edges add a touch of contrast to the tail’s pale brown color, contributing to the dove’s overall visual appeal.
  While not as prominent as the Mourning Dove’s white tail corners, these white edges play a role in attracting attention during displays and flights.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s tail is characterized by its unique white corners, known as “windows.”
  When the dove is in flight, these white corners are particularly noticeable and are a key identifying feature. These white corners contrast with the dove’s gray wings and contribute to its distinctive appearance during aerial maneuvers.

Flight Pattern

• Inca Dove: The flight pattern of the Inca Dove is often swift and direct, reflecting its adaptation to navigating through arid environments with agility. It can make rapid changes in direction as it moves among sparse vegetation and rocky terrain. Its flight is purposeful and suited to its ground-feeding habits.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s flight pattern is characterized by a graceful and gliding motion. Its long, pointed wings and elegant tail shape contribute to its ability to maintain a steady glide over longer distances. This flight pattern is both efficient and aesthetically pleasing, reflecting the Mourning Dove’s gentle nature.

Voice

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s voice is marked by its unique “noo-oo, coo-coo” call. This melodious sound resonates in its arid habitat, often serving as a means of communication between individuals. The call’s soft and repetitive nature contributes to the peaceful ambiance of the desert environment.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s voice is famous for its soft and mournful cooing. Its call is a series of distinct and soothing notes, creating a melancholic yet comforting melody. This call is often associated with rural and urban landscapes alike, adding a touch of tranquility to various environments.

Wing Color

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s wings are often a subdued shade that complements its overall pale brown coloration. While its wings might not be as striking as those of the Mourning Dove, they blend seamlessly with its arid habitat.
  This subdued wing color serves as another element of camouflage, helping the dove avoid detection by predators in the desert landscape.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s wings are characterized by an elegant blue-gray hue, which stands out against its brown body. This contrast creates a visually striking appearance during flight and adds to the bird’s overall beauty.
  The blue-gray wings are an identifying feature of the Mourning Dove, contributing to its charm and ease of recognition.

Tail Shape

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s tail is slender and may be slightly squared off at the tip. This tail shape is well-suited for the dove’s ground-feeding behavior and its ability to maneuver through tight spaces in arid environments. The tail’s shape contributes to the Inca Dove’s agility and flexibility as it navigates its chosen habitat.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s tail is one of its most distinguishing features. It is long and pointed, creating a graceful and streamlined appearance. This tail shape enhances the dove’s flight capabilities, allowing it to glide smoothly through the air. The elongated tail contributes to the dove’s agility and contributes to its elegant presence.

Tail White Edges

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s tail feathers often feature white edges on the sides. These white edges add a touch of contrast to the tail’s pale brown color, contributing to the dove’s overall visual appeal.
  While not as prominent as the Mourning Dove’s white tail corners, these white edges play a role in attracting attention during displays and flights.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s tail is characterized by its unique white corners, known as “windows.”
  When the dove is in flight, these white corners are particularly noticeable and are a key identifying feature. These white corners contrast with the dove’s gray wings and contribute to its distinctive appearance during aerial maneuvers.

Flight Pattern

• Inca Dove: The flight pattern of the Inca Dove is often swift and direct, reflecting its adaptation to navigating through arid environments with agility.
  It can make rapid changes in direction as it moves among sparse vegetation and rocky terrain. Its flight is purposeful and suited to its ground-feeding habits.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s flight pattern is characterized by a graceful and gliding motion. Its long, pointed wings and elegant tail shape contribute to its ability to maintain a steady glide over longer distances. This flight pattern is both efficient and aesthetically pleasing, reflecting the Mourning Dove’s gentle nature.

Voice

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s voice is marked by its unique “noo-oo, coo-coo” call. This melodious sound resonates in its arid habitat, often serving as a means of communication between individuals. The call’s soft and repetitive nature contributes to the peaceful ambiance of the desert environment.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s voice is famous for its soft and mournful cooing. Its call is a series of distinct and soothing notes, creating a melancholic yet comforting melody. This call is often associated with rural and urban landscapes alike, adding a touch of tranquility to various environments.

Overall Appearance

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove presents a charming appearance with its smaller size, pale brown coloration, and scaled upper body. Its subtle beauty is accentuated by the slender tail with white sides. These features collectively contribute to its unassuming yet elegant presence, suitable for its arid and desert-like habitats.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove boasts a medium-sized, streamlined body with a brown hue and distinctive blue-gray wings. Its elongated tail with pointed feathers adds an element of grace to its appearance. The combination of colors and proportions gives the Mourning Dove a classic and visually appealing profile.

Range of Sounds

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s range of sounds includes its unique “noo-oo, coo-coo” call. This melodious and repetitive cooing contributes to the serene atmosphere of arid environments, marking the presence of this dove amidst the desert landscape.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove is known for its soft and mournful cooing, which resonates across various habitats. Its range of sounds includes a series of gentle, soothing notes that evoke a sense of tranquility in both rural and urban settings.

Feather Texture

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s feather texture is notably scaled, contributing to its ability to blend into its arid surroundings. These scaled feathers provide a textured appearance that aids in camouflage and may assist in thermoregulation in its dry habitat.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s feather texture is smooth and sleek, allowing it to move through the air with minimal resistance during flight. This texture suits its versatile habitat preferences and enables it to navigate through different environments.

Urban Presence

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove is less commonly found in urban areas, preferring arid and natural landscapes. Its adaptations are aligned with desert habitats, making it less likely to be encountered in bustling city environments.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove is well adapted to urban, suburban, and rural areas, often found perched on telephone wires or foraging in parks. Its ability to thrive in human-altered landscapes highlights its resilience and adaptability.

Adaptation

• Inca Dove: The Inca Dove’s adaptations are finely tuned to arid conditions, including its pale coloration, scaled body, and ground-feeding habits. These adaptations help it find food and conserve water in its desert-like habitat.
• Mourning Dove: The Mourning Dove’s adaptability allows it to inhabit a wide range of habitats, utilizing its subdued coloration and efficient foraging behaviors. This adaptability is a key factor in its widespread presence across North America.

Distinct Features

• Inca Dove: Distinct features of the Inca Dove include its scaled upper body, rufous primaries visible during flight, and the unique “noo-oo, coo-coo” call. These attributes set it apart and contribute to its role in arid ecosystems.
• Mourning Dove: Distinct features of the Mourning Dove include its blue-gray wings, elongated tail with white corners, and the mournful cooing call. These features make it a well-known and cherished bird in a variety of landscapes.

Inca Dove Vs Mourning Dove: Comparison Table

Aspect	Inca Dove	Mourning Dove
Size	Smaller	Medium-sized
Coloration	Pale brown, rufous primaries visible	Brown body, blue-gray wings
Upper Body	Scaled appearance	Uniform color
Tail	Slender with white sides	Long, pointed
Tail Display	White-edged, visible in flight	Notable in flight
Call	“noo-oo, coo-coo”	Soft, mournful cooing
Habitat	Arid, desert-like areas	Various habitats, including woodlands
Range	Southwestern U.S., Mexico, Central America	Canada to Mexico
Feeding Habits	Seeds, small insects	Seeds, grains
Behavior	Ground-feeding, exploring on foot	Ground-feeding, often perched
Wing Color	Rufous primaries	Blue-gray wings
Tail Shape	Square or slightly rounded	Long, pointed
Tail White Edges	Present on tail feathers	Not present
Flight Pattern	Swift, direct	Graceful and gliding
Voice	Name-like call, unique sound	Soft and mournful coo
Distribution	Limited range in specific regions	Widespread across North America
Preferred Climate	Arid, dry climates	Diverse climates
Nesting Habits	Nest in trees, shrubs, and cacti	Nests in various locations, even on ground
Migration	Generally non-migratory	Some populations migratory
Social Behavior	Often seen in pairs or small groups	Sometimes solitary, but can be in groups
Overall Appearance	Small, scaled upper body, slender tail	Medium-sized, streamlined shape
Range of Sounds	Varied vocalizations	Limited vocalizations
Feather Texture	Soft and scaled	Smooth and sleek
Urban Presence	Less common in urban areas	Found in urban, suburban, and rural areas
Adaptation	Suited for arid, dry environments	Versatile adaptation to diverse environments
Distinct Features	Rufous wing edges, scaled appearance	Blue-gray wings, pointed tail

Frequently Asked Questions

To Recap

The Inca Dove and the Mourning Dove exemplify nature’s artistry in crafting unique avian adaptations.

From the Inca Dove’s scaled appearance harmonizing with arid terrains to the Mourning Dove’s graceful flight and mournful cooing echoing across diverse landscapes, these doves exemplify the marvels of evolution.

Their distinct traits underscore the importance of biodiversity, as they contribute to the delicate balance of ecosystems they inhabit.

As we continue to appreciate the subtleties that set these doves apart, we gain a deeper understanding of the intricate relationships between species and their environments, reminding us of the beauty and resilience inherent in the natural world.