I agree this bird looks very good for Inca Dove.  If you see it fly, look for the red wings.  
 
I know that since the Sibley guide was published, there have been several more records in the Mississippi River Valley north of their usual range.  I don't know of any vagrancy patterns farther east.  Of course last year's Neotropic Cormorant was the same way.  
 
Great spot!
 
Matt Hafner
Bel Air, MD
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: 
To: 
Sent: Sun, 5 Nov 2006 7:16 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] INCA DOVE?!


Derek,

To me the bird looks spot on for an Inca Dove!  Sibley shows that they have
a small pattern of vagrancy, although I am not sure one has been recorded
this far out of range before.  I am also not sure if they are ever kept in
captivity.  This could possibly/probably be a wild bird.  Are you accepting
visitors?

Cheers and good birding,
Mike Burchett
Churchville, MD
Morgantown, WV

---- "Derek C. Richardson" <> wrote: 
> 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
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