How can you sex Ringneck Doves?

[Chiko]

My cousin rescued a Ring-Neck dove and we are wondering how to sex it...We want to get a friend for it but don't want it to breed just yet. Thanks!

 

[elmo]

I know of no other way than behavior. Let the dove have access to a mirror or a shiny pot lid, and if you see it bow and coo to its reflection, it's likely to be a male. But females sometimes bow coo also, so it's not always determinative.

Here's a link to the best description I know of ringneck dove behavior:

http://www.ringneckdove.com/Wilmer's WebPage/behavior.htm

 

[DuranAndy]

Sexing doves is not easy. There is no way to sex them based on sexual dimorphism. You can only tell by wether or not they bow and coo, and sometimes this can take days or weeks to be sure.

 

[Ksane]

We have one that we called a male for 6 yrs, he cooed constanty. We got him a companion awhile back and they *both laid eggs. So he is a she. There's really no way to tell when you've got a singleton. Even 2 females or 2 males will bond and take on male-female roles. The only way to know for sure is if one lays an egg, and the egg hatches.

 

[elmo]

When I said I knew of no other way than behavior, I mispoke. You could, of course, get a DNA test. But other than that, no.