Inca doves are small, slender doves with a long tail. The tail is narrow and pointed when folded, and the white outermost tail feathers are revealed when it is spread. The body is mostly light-gray, but the very tips of the feathers on the head, breast, and back are dark giving the plumage a scaly appearance. When the birds take flight, they make a characteristic buzzing sound, and conspicuous rusty-brown patches become visible on the wings.
Inca doves occur in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and much of Central America. They forage in pairs or small flocks for seeds on the ground and may roost communally in trees or on power lines. In winter they often huddle together, apparently to keep warm.
