how do you tell a female dove from a male?

Answer 1

The female has darker coloring.

Answer 2

I breed doves, and in my experience, the males are darker than females, and they have smaller heads.

In breeding season, the males "display" - they flap their wings, stand upright and show off to get the female's attention. The females never do this. Females do short "coos", while males have a longer call.

Do not go by "the female is the one on the nest", as male and female doves share the responsibility of looking after the eggs and young. The males often stay on the nest while females go for food, water, toilet etc...

The female is usually the one who does the "nestmaking", though.

Hope I helped.

Answer 3

Males and females look alike and about the only way to tell the difference is by observation. Only males perform bow coos under ordinary conditions. This is the fastest coo in courting behavior, and is always directed at a particular bird with an accompanying head bow. The feet often alternate in "stamping". However, females long isolated from males may bow coo when presented with another bird. Perch coos and nest coos are slower and softer and the nest coo is always accompanied by wing "flipping." Perch coos and nest coos may be given by both sexes. Other characteristic male behaviors can also be taken on by long-isolated females, so are not as reliable. Some of their vocalizations sound like rippling laughter, thus the common name, "laughing dove."

Answer 4

2 ways: watch them when they mate/which one lays the eggs

or cloacal inspection..which I don't think the Dove would enjoy. :op

you really cannot tell. the sexes are identical for the most part.

Answer 5

females have darker gential areas

Answer 6

females are darker

Answer 7

Watch which bathroom they come out of.