Ruddy Ground Dove or Inca Dove?
Here's how to tell the difference
Ruddy Ground Dove
Inca Dove
Ruddy Ground Dove
Columbina talpacoti
General appearance
The Ruddy Ground Dove mainly embodies a reddish-orange color, complemented with shades of black, brown, gray, and white. Its physical structure is around 6.5 to 7 inches long and approximately 16 1/2 to 18 inches in width, symbolizing proportions akin to that of a sparrow or robin. The bird possesses a noticeable lack of a scaly pattern on its chest and pink hue on its bill. The wings and tail are in a rounded, short, square-tipped form.
Male vs female
The male Ruddy Ground Dove carries more pronounced reddish tones compared to the females. While both sexes feature black spots on the wings, males distinguish themselves with additional black markings on the scapulars, which is the area located above the wings.
Juvenile
Information on the appearances of juvenile Ruddy Ground Doves as compared to adults isn't currently available. However, in many species of doves, juveniles tend to have more muted colors and less distinctive markings, gaining their full adult coloration and patterning as they mature.
Size
6.5 - 7.1 in/1.4 - 2.0 oz
There's more to learn about Ruddy Ground Dove
View full detailsInca Dove
Columbina inca
Also known as: Mexican Dove
General appearance
The Inca dove has a distinctive small body that is 20 cm long and has a long tail. The overall coloration is a mix of black, brown, gray, and red, with a dark scaly pattern covering its body. The rounded wings produce a dry rattle sound upon takeoff while presenting a rusty red feather display. Additionally, this dove possesses white outer tail feathers and a square-tipped, long tail.
Male vs female
There are no significant physical distinctions between male and female Inca doves. Both sexes share the same body size, coloration, and distinctive tail and wing features. Females may appear slightly lighter in color, but this is often not a reliable trait for identification.
Juvenile
The juvenile Inca Dove looks comparable to the adult, but exhibits a somewhat scaly appearance. Its resemblance to the Mourning Dove's juvenile stage can lead to misidentification. However, distinguishing features for young Inca doves include their long tails in comparison to the short tails of Common Ground Doves. Further, they display a red wing flash in flight.
Size
7.1 - 9.1 in/1.1 - 2.0 oz
There's more to learn about Inca Dove
View full detailsHow to tell the Ruddy Ground Dove from the Inca Dove
Visual differences
The Ruddy Ground Dove (6.5-7 inches) is smaller than the Inca Dove (about 8 inches). Ruddy Ground Doves display reddish-orange tones with black spots, lacking the scaly pattern on their chest and have a short, rounded tail. In contrast, Inca Doves have a distinctive scaly pattern across their body, rusty-red wing flashes in flight, and a long, square-tipped tail with white outer feathers. Both species have rounded wings, but Inca Doves produce a dry rattle sound upon takeoff. The Ruddy's beak lacks the pink hue sometimes seen in other doves.
Key differences and behavior
Ruddy Ground Doves and Inca Doves exhibit distinct behaviors and habitat preferences. Ruddy Ground Doves are aggressive toward each other but friendly and naive around humans, often found sunbathing. In contrast, Inca Doves display "pyramid roosting" to stay warm and show increasing eye redness when threatened. Habitat-wise, Ruddy Ground Doves inhabit tropical and subtropical forests and urban areas, while Inca Doves prefer human-dominated landscapes with lawns, trees, and access to water. Both species form pair bonds and share nest-building and chick-rearing responsibilities. However, Ruddy Ground Doves court with bowing and cooing, constructing sturdy nests 3.3-6.6 feet above ground, whereas Inca Doves favor gardens and build flat nests on trees or buildings. In terms of diet, both feed on seeds, but Ruddy Ground Doves predominantly forage on the ground, while Inca Doves utilize bird feeders and consume fruit occasionally.
Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!
Ruddy Ground Dove vs Common Ground-Dove
Ruddy Ground Dove vs Plain-Breasted Ground Dove
Inca Dove vs Mourning Dove
Inca Dove vs Common Ground-Dove
Ruddy Ground Dove vs [Select a bird]
[Select a bird]
Pick a bird to compare
Inca Dove vs [Select a bird]
[Select a bird]
Pick a bird to compare