How To Band a Dove

Banding doves provides a means of identification for the individual birds. A small band is placed onto the dove's leg, allowing unrestricted growth and movement of the leg. Information including the bird's age, size, physical characteristics is recorded and submitted to one of several bird organizations. The band has a unique identification number that corresponds to the bird's information, providing an identification of the bird if it ever goes missing. Banding also provides proof that the dove was legally bred or imported into the United States and that it is legal to move the dove from state to state.

Things You'll Need

  • Table
  • Band
  • Pliers
  • Lubricant
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the dove gently but firmly in your hand. Place the bird's head between your forefinger and middle finger, allowing the bird to rest in your palm with your remaining fingers cupping the bird. Do not squeeze the dove's neck between your fingers and do not squeeze the bird in your hand so that you do not suffocate it or break any of its bones. Hold the bird over a table in case it squirms free of your grasp and falls.

    • 2

      Grasp the dove's leg with your free hand, gently. Place the leg between your ring finger and pinky finger of the hand cupping the bird. Hold the leg as still as possible.

    • 3

      Use your free hand to place the band on your dove's leg. If the dove is a baby, slide the birds first 3 toes through the band then slip the band up the leg and over the last toe. Gently tighten the band so that it is loose enough not to restrict growth or movement of the leg, but so that it will not slide off the leg. If the dove is older, use an open band and slip the dove's leg through the slit on the side then gently clamp the band shut with pliers.

    • 4

      Ensure that the band is properly fitted between the dove's foot and its elbow joint on the leg. Adjust the band if necessary (this may require removing the band with pliers and reapplying it.)

    • 5

      Fill out the paperwork that corresponds with your bird's band, and submit the paperwork to register your dove.