Laughing Dove
Spilopelia senegalensis
Diverse habitats. Pinkish head; cinnamon breast with black flecks; cinnamon blotched back; blue grey wings; dark pink legs.
Doves, Pigeons
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Very common, sometimes abundant resident. Has no black collar. Pinkish head, cinnamon breast with black spots and rusty-coloured back diagnostic. In flight shows white outer tail feathers like Ring-necked Dove, but mantle is rusty or cinnamon-coloured. The call is a soft ‘coo-coo-cuk-coo-coo’ like someone laughing softly to themselves. Widespread in a variety of habitats, often with [Ring-necked Dove], yet unaccountably absent from some regions. Common in suburbia.
Quick Facts
Size
25 cm - M
Names
A: Rooiborsduifie
Z: uKhonzane
Ss: Mofubetswana
G: Senegaltaube, Palmtaube
Bird Family
A well-known group of mostly seed-eating, terrestrial (except for the arboreal fruit-feeding pigeons) birds that build flimsy stick platform nests in trees. The distinction between pigeons and doves is ill-defined: larger species tend to be called pigeons, smaller ones doves. Immatures are dull versions of the adults. Many species become very common and tame near human habitation.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
