Bird · GBIF taxon 6101223
Laughing Dove
Spilopelia senegalensisAlso known as Laughing Turtle Dove, Palm Dove, Senegal Dove, Little Brown Dove
Laughing doves are soft-plumaged, terrestrial pigeons easily recognized by their delicate pinkish-brown hues and distinctive rufous and black checkered necklace. Named for their soft, bubbling, five-note call that resembles human laughter, these trusting birds spend much of their day foraging in pairs along open ground and urban gardens. They adapt remarkably well to human settlements, frequently constructing frail twig nests on building ledges, palm fronds, and garden trellises.
GranivoreVocalUrban Adapting
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grass Seeds
- Grain Crops
- Small Invertebrates
Predators
- Domestic Cats
- Raptors
- Snakes
ThreatsPredation by feral cats, agricultural pesticide exposure, and extreme heat events
HabitatsDry scrubland, semi-desert, cultivated farmlands, urban parks, and residential gardens
Life span5–10 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderColumbiformes
- FamilyColumbidae
- GenusSpilopelia
- SpeciesSpilopelia senegalensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Listen for the soft, rolling five-note chuckling coo early in the morning.
- Feeding: Scatter wild bird seed on bare ground patches to attract foraging pairs.
- Nest Care: Avoid disturbing their fragile twig platforms in garden shrubs or ledges.
Ecological Competitor stevem4560 / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Image unavailableHabitat Companion 
Close Relative (c) Zinogre, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Zinogre · cc-by-sa
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Found in Collections
Species set
Urban Dwellers
Laughing Dove is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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