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Subject:

INCA DOVE?!

From:

"Derek C. Richardson"

Reply-To:

Derek C. Richardson

Date:

Sun, 5 Nov 2006 16:51:27 -0500

Had an unusual dove at my feeders just now (4:30 pm), in 
Laurel MD, PG County.  Uniform drab gray with scaly 
appearance, noticably smaller than Mourning Dove (one was 
conveniently right next to it; that's how I noticed). 
Looking through Sibley, an adult INCA DOVE appears to be the 
best match.  I have some photos (hand-held automatic, first 
2 through the bird protection screen; it was already getting 
dark, so these are fuzzy):

    http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/xfer/strange_dove/

I didn't edit or crop these in any way, so they're large. 
You can see the red eye in the 3rd pic.  I was maneuvering 
for another shot when the bird flew off, so I didn't see the 
rufous underwings.  Evidently Inca Doves are expected in the 
states bordering Mexico, not up here.  Is this likely an 
escapee, or could it be a true vagrant?

D

-- 
Derek C. Richardson, College Park, PG County, MD
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/Archives/Photos/birds.html