Aging mourning doves by outer primary wear

Journal of Wildlife Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

Many immature mourning doves (Zenaidura macroura) cannot be aged by the conventional white-tipped primary covert method if molt has proceeded beyond the 7th primary. A new method of aging doves in this group is based on the presence (immature) or absence (adult) of a buff-colored fringe on the tips of the 9th and 10th primaries. Experienced biologists were nearly 100 percent accurate in aging wings of 100 known-age doves from eastern and midwestern states. The technique is not as reliable for doves from southwestern United States because of added feather wear, apparently from harsh vegetative and soil conditions.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Aging mourning doves by outer primary wear
Series title Journal of Wildlife Management
DOI 10.2307/3797993
Volume 31
Issue 4
Year Published 1967
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 4 p.
First page 832
Last page 835
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