"We have recently bought two blue white tail doves and are having difficultly distinguishing the male from the female. Could you possibly give me a description or scan a picture for me. Thank you so very much for your help-as we love our doves very much." Sincerely, Deborah
- My Laceneck hens will coo if placed in a pen without a male. The first laceneck that I got was sold to me as a lone hen. After having her in a pen without a male for a couple of days she did start cooing and I thought that the guy who sold it to me had it wrong and really sold me a male. Regardless of it cooing it did turn out to be a hen. I've seen several hens coo but like I said it was when they were placed without a male. It had the same sound as a males courtship or calling coo although there was a slight different sound in the tone. A little more feminine. There is also a difference, (in the line of lacenecks that I have) in the lace but it's very hard to see and I don't remember off of the top of my head exactly what it is. The bird has to basically be in the hand or very close to see it. One last thing, as Gary made mention of the head, the females heads are smaller and rounder, while the males are slightly larger and more blockier but I almost have to have a pair together to see the difference. I realize that all of the differences that I have described here may be traits that run in the line of birds that I have and may or may not be the same in other lacenecks. John, With your ability to see variations in "same species birds" I think that if the difference I have been able to detect in the sexes of the birds I have here does exist, then you, if anybody will be able to see it. I don't remember if it was that there was more space between the spots on the black blanket or what? It was noticed by myself and a friend as we stood outside the enclosure looking at a pair sitting next to the wire on a perch. Granted this was only one pair but we were both able to see it. If it wasn't just a variation in the two birds that we were looking at it might prove helpful in future sexing of this species. [Monte]