Hi there
I would love to know how to tell the difference between a male and female Collared Dove
Is there a distinctive difference with their plumage, or are there other more subtle ways of telling them apart from one another.
Funnily the two I have are a slight differnet coloration form each other {or is it my eyes deceiving me}
One of the pair has a lot of white feathers appearing in its tail. The Doves tail must be getting a battering at the moment. So it makes me think that the bird could be the female for that reason alone.
Any other theories anyone?
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Kathy,
I believe it is possible to sex collared doves by plumage, but the differences are so subtle that it is virtually impossible to be accurate. Males have pinky-grey crowns and napes. Females have browny-grey crowns and napes.
If the dove's tail looks like it has feathers missing or half chewed, it may be other species have been trying to pull them out for nesting material. I actually witnessed this happening recently on next door's greenhouse roof. Two doves were sitting, fluffed up and cuddled together. A cheeky sparrow approached them from behind, quiety lurched forward and tried to pull out a dove's tail feather. It failed, the dove turned round and eye-balled the sparrow, who thought better of it and departed.
Here are my two love birds.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi Blackbird, I don't think there is any way to tell the difference, ( don't take my word for that though ). But you could be right about the battered tailed one being the female as they lay there eggs from february onwards.
There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.
Hi Sparrow, Posts crossed, see Blackbird I said don't take my word on it.
My pair look the same to me. But i am short sighted so there's no counting on me i'm afraid.
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
Hi Sparrow
Love your cute cuddly picture {like Dave and I are each Friday night after we have not seen each other all week - very lovey dovey} soppy Kathy.
So you have noticed the subtle differences in the plumage. i wondered about that - it is there to see if you spend a good bit of time watching the Collared Doves in your garden area. It takes a while for the colouration to register.
Never thought of other birds doing a bit of feather grabbing. Not so good. If you have a long tail it is tempting fate for any bird/wildlife to steal your feathers LOL
interesting answer Sparrow!
hi Sarah
Likewise here with the eyesight.
As the pair are settled and not so jumpy around the feeders, I can have a good look at them through my set of binoculars.
bramble67 said: My pair look the same to me. But i am short sighted so there's no counting on me i'm afraid. Sarah
Hi Blackbird,
I now have a picture in my mind of you and Dave cuddled up on the sofa!!! My Dave goes out on Friday nights so I have the house to myself.
If you could manage a zoomed photo of your doves it might help you decide which is which. I have several close ups, but still can't tell with mine. They both look the same to me.
Look at Buzzard's Sexing and Ageing Common Garden Birds- Page 2.
I am sure you all book marked it.
Hi Brenda,
I certainly did bookmark it, and have read the page on collared doves, but still can't tell the difference!!
I'm quite interested in this too and was only thinking about it the other day oddly enough. There is one way to tell - during the mating season but its a bit personal to be looking, LOL!
This is the only photo I have of any of my Collared Doves paired up: