What is Laughing Dove?

About Laughing Dove:

• It is a small pigeon that is a resident breeder in Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent.
• Scientific Name: Spilopelia senegalensis
• Other names include laughing turtle dove, palm dove, and Senegal dove, while in India the name of little brown dove is often used.
• Distribution:
  • The species is found in much of sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
  • It is also found in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, the UAE, and Turkey (these populations may be derived from human introductions).
  • It was also introduced in Western Australia.
• Habitat: It is found in dry scrub and semi-desert habitats where pairs can often be seen feeding on the ground.
• Features:
  • It is a long-tailed, slim pigeon, typically 25 cm in length.
  • Its back wings and tail are reddish-brown with blue-grey in the wings.
  • In flight, the underwings are rich chestnut.
  • The head and underparts are pinkish, shading to whitish on the lower abdomen.
  • There is black spotting on the throat. The legs are red.
  • Juveniles are more rufous than adults, and have reduced throat spotting.
  • They are fairly terrestrial, foraging on the ground in grasslands and cultivation.
  • They are not particularly gregarious, and are usually alone, or in pairs.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern.