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Laughing Dove

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Range & Recent Observations

Laughing Doveis a year-round resident and doesn't follow a migration flyway. See the Range tab for where it lives.

Last Spotted Near You

View on eBirdWikipedia

About the Laughing Dove

The laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) is a small pigeon that is a resident breeder in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Western Australia where it has established itself in the wild after being released from Perth Zoo in 1898. This small long-tailed dove is found in dry scrub and semi-desert habitats where pairs can often be seen feeding on the ground. It is closely related to the spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) which is distinguished by a white and black chequered necklace. Other names include laughing turtle dove, palm dove and Senegal dove while in Asia the name little brown dove is often used.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Spilopelia senegalensis
Family
Pigeons and Doves
Order
Columbiformes

Similar species

Other members of the pigeons and doves family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • African Collared-Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea
  • Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata
  • Blue Ground Dove Claravis pretiosa
  • Caribbean Dove Leptotila jamaicensis
  • Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina
  • Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus
  • Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
  • Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata
  • Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
  • European Turtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur
  • Gray-chested Dove Leptotila cassinii
  • Gray-headed Dove Leptotila plumbeiceps

Know when the Laughing Dove turns up near you

Add it to your watchlist and draw an alert zone around the places you actually bird. Birdr checks eBird reports and tells you when one is seen inside it.

How rare bird alerts work →

Gear for spotting Laughing Dove

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