Accuracy of Techniques Used to Assign Mourning Dove Age and Gender

Abstract

Sex ratios of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) reported in banding studies have differed markedly between states and years suggesting that techniques used to assign gender may be biased. We tested this hypothesis with experienced mourning dove biologists (n = 4) who assigned age, gender, primary molt progression, and certainty of classification, using external characteristics of harvested doves (n = 468) in Missouri during September 1993. The probability of correctly classifying adult mourning doves, verified with gonadal examination, was 0.904-0.985 and 0.957-0.990 for immatures. Assessment of age and gender combined was 0.944-0.990 for adult females and 0.533-0.993 for adult males. Error probabilities of observer ability to correctly assign age and gender was 0.0-0.045 for adult females and 0.007-0.451 for adult males. Among individual mourning doves examined, only 1 adult and 6 immature doves were incorrectly assigned age and gender by all 4 participants. Error in assigning gender to adult doves could have contributed to disparate sex ratios reported in previous mourning dove banding studies. We recommend that standard training procedures be developed and implemented across states and regions in future banding studies of mourning doves.