Earlier today, reliable observers discovered an Inca dove in a backyard near downtown Huntington, West Virginia. The site is only a few miles from the Ohio border in Lawrence Co. The WV records committee will be looking at the record, but it seems likely this is a wild bird. This species is on many experts' short list of possible new vagrants in our region. According to my records (could be missing the most recent reports), Michigan has one record, in Chippewa Co in 2004; Kentucky one in Carlisle in 2000 and another in Fulton in 2002;, and Ontario two, both in Rainy River, one in 1992 and the other in 200l. These are pretty fresh records, and seem to reflect more of these birds wandering into our region for some reason. All but one of the two dozen or so records in mid-continent have come from outside the breeding season (May-July), a lot of them in mid-winter. Across their range these dainty scaley-looking doves are often found on lawns and vacant lots in urban settings, and this increases the chances of running into one. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]