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Project Noah Nature School
Columbina Inca
These little doves (I think they're doves) were rooting around in the leaves and dirt in groups...I believe they were working on their courtship...circling each other...sticking their tails straight up in the air...the one with the upright wing sat there for about a minute with the wing open...then she righted herself and went on rooting! They were adorable! They were in a big outside aviary with a lot of other birds at the Sonoran Desert Museum (gardens mostly).
It's a great place...it's not really a museum but a botanic garden with a small zoo. They had 2 aviaries...one with hummingbirds and one much bigger with the doves and lots of other birds. I was happy that they were all local specimens too...Thanks again!
It's nice they only have local birds, often places like that are what are responsible for introducing invasive, non-native species to the area! And yes, that first pic with that lovely warm hue under the wing is gorgeous :D Glad I could help!
Thanks Laura...they were adorable! These were definitely not mourning doves...we have them everywhere, here and home in Denver...they were smaller. Inca doves fit! I do love their soft grey plumage...and that bronze under the wing is beautiful! These were captive but they didn't have any birds that WEREN'T local. Thanks for the ID and compliments!
Oh what lovely birds, Christy! Initially I thought they might be mourning doves, since I remember juveniles looking like this, and in looking for a picture of them as reference, I came across what I think these are - Inca doves! Their range fits your location perfectly, as does that beautiful plumage. Great spotting!!
Spotted on Mar 28, 2012
Submitted on Mar 28, 2012
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