Editing Laughing dove

{{short description|Species of bird}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Laughing dove
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2018 |title=''Spilopelia senegalensis'' |volume=2018 |page=e.T22690445A132060894 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22690445A132060894.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Laughing dove - Vadodara 2022-01-28.jpg
| image_caption = At [[Vadodara]], [[Gujarat]]
| image2=S-senegalensis.ogg 
| image2_caption = Call of ''S. s. cambayensis'' 
| genus = Spilopelia
| species = senegalensis
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1766)
| synonyms = *''Columba senegalensis'' {{small|Linnaeus,&nbsp;1766}}
*''Streptopelia senegalensis'' {{small|(Linnaeus,&nbsp;1766)}}
*''Stigmatopelia senegalensis'' {{small|(Linnaeus,&nbsp;1766)}}
}}

The '''laughing dove''' ('''''Spilopelia senegalensis''''') is a small [[Dove|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.<ref>[https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/dove-spreading-love-over-wa-20130606-2nrfm.html Dove spreading love over WA]. 7 June 2013, [[WAToday]] website</ref> 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.

==Taxonomy==
In 1760 the French zoologist [[Mathurin Jacques Brisson]] included a description of the laughing dove in his six volume ''Ornithologie'' based on a specimen collected in Senegal. He used the French name ''La tourterelle à gorge tachetée du Sénégal'' and the Latin ''Tutur gutture maculato senegalensis''.<ref name=brisson>{{ cite book | last=Brisson | first=Mathurin Jacques | author-link=Mathurin Jacques Brisson | year=1760 | title=Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés | volume=1 | language=fr, la | place=Paris | publisher=Jean-Baptiste Bauche | pages=125–127, Plate 8 fig 3 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36010553 }} The two stars (**) at the start of the section indicates that Brisson based his description on the examination of a specimen.</ref> Although Brisson coined Latin names, these do not conform to the [[binomial nomenclature|binomial system]] and are not recognised by the [[International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature]].<ref name=allen>{{cite journal |last=Allen | first=J.A. | author-link=Joel Asaph Allen | year=1910 | title=Collation of Brisson's genera of birds with those of Linnaeus |journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |volume=28 | pages=317–335 | hdl=2246/678 }}</ref> When in 1766 the Swedish naturalist [[Carl Linnaeus]] updated his ''[[Systema Naturae]]'' for the [[12th edition of Systema Naturae|twelfth edition]], he added 240 species that had been previously described by Brisson.<ref name=allen/> One of these was the laughing dove which he placed with all the other pigeons in the genus ''[[Columba (genus)|Columba]]''. Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the [[binomial name]] ''Columba senegalensis'' and cited Brisson's work.<ref>{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=Carl | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | year=1766 | title=Systema naturae : per regna tria natura, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | edition=12th | volume=1, Part 1 | publisher=Laurentii Salvii  | place=Holmiae (Stockholm) | language=la | page=283 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42946479 }}</ref>

For many years the laughing dove was placed in the genus ''[[Streptopelia]]''.<ref name=peters>{{ cite book | editor-last=Peters | editor-first=James Lee | editor-link=James L. Peters | year=1937 | title=Check-List of Birds of the World | volume=3 | publisher=Harvard University Press | place=Cambridge, Massachusetts  | pages=98–100 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14477813 }}</ref> A [[molecular phylogenetic]] study published in 2001 found this genus was [[paraphyletic]] with respect to ''Columba''.<ref>{{cite journal| last1=Johnson | first1=K.P. | last2=De Kort | first2=S | last3=Dinwoodey | first3=K. | last4=Mateman | first4=A.C. | last5=Ten Cate | first5=C. | last6=Lessells | first6=C.M. | last7=Clayton | first7=D.H. | year=2001| journal=Auk| volume=118 |title=A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera ''Streptopelia'' and ''Columba''| issue=4 | pages=874–887 | doi=10.1642/0004-8038(2001)118[0874:AMPOTD]2.0.CO;2 | doi-access=free | url=https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/p00874-p00887.pdf }}</ref> To create [[monophyletic]] genera the laughing dove as well as the closely related [[spotted dove]] were moved to the resurrected genus ''[[Spilopelia]]'' that had been introduced by the Swedish zoologist [[Carl Jakob Sundevall|Carl Sundevall]] in 1873.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sundevall | first=Carl | author-link=Carl Jakob Sundevall | title=Methodi naturalis avium disponendarum tentamen. Försök till fogelklassens naturenliga uppställnung | language=la | year= 1872 | publisher=Samson and Wallin| place=Stockholm | pages=100, 186 | url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52164515}} Although the title page in dated 1872, the part containing pages 100 and 186 was published in 1873.</ref><ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | year=2020 | title=Pigeons | work=IOC World Bird List Version 10.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/pigeons/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=9 March 2020 }}</ref>

Five populations with small plumage and size differences have been given the status of subspecies:<ref name=ioc/>
* ''S. s. phoenicophila'' ([[Ernst Hartert|Hartert]], 1916) – Morocco to northwest Libya
* ''S. s. aegyptiaca'' ([[John Latham (ornithologist)|Latham]], 1790) – Nile Valley (Egypt)
* ''S. s. senegalensis'' (Linnaeus, 1766) – '''southern laughing dove''', west Arabia, [[Socotra|Socotra Island]], Africa south of the Sahara
* ''S. s. cambayensis'' ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin, JF]], 1789) – east Arabia and east Iran to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh
* ''S. s. ermanni'' ([[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1856) – Kazakhstan, north Afghanistan, west China

Several other subspecies have been described but are not now generally recognised. These include ''S. s. sokotrae'' on Socotra Island, ''S. s. dakhlae'' in the [[Dakhla Oasis]], Egypt and ''S. s. thome'' on [[São Tomé Island]].<ref name=peters/>

==Description==
The laughing dove is a long-tailed, slim pigeon, typically {{convert|25|cm|abbr=on}} in length. It is pinkish brown on the underside with a lilac tinged head and neck. The head and underparts are pinkish, shading to buff on the lower [[abdomen]]. A chequered rufous and grey patch is found on the sides of the neck of adults and is made up of split feathers. The upper parts are brownish with a bluish-grey band along the wing. The back is uniform and dull brown in the South Asian population. The African populations ''S. s. senegalensis'' and ''S. s. phoenicophila'' have a bluish grey rump and upper tail coverts but differ in the shades of the neck and wing feathers while ''S. s. aegyptiaca'' is larger and the head and nape are vinous and upper wing coverts are rufous.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Notes on pigeons|author=Hartert, E|pages=78–88|url=https://archive.org/stream/novitateszoolog231916roth#page/82/mode/1up|year=1916| volume=23|journal=Novitates Zoologicae}}</ref> The tail is graduated and the outer feathers are tipped in white. The sexes are indistinguishable in the field. [[Juvenile (organism)|Young birds]] lack the chequered neck markings. The [[leg]]s are red. The populations vary slightly in plumage with those from more arid zones being paler.<ref name=hbk>{{cite book|author1=Ali, S.  |author2=S.D. Ripley| year=1981|title=Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Volume 3|edition=2nd| pages=155–157|publisher=Oxford University Press| place= New Delhi}}</ref> Abnormal [[leucism|leucistic]] plumages have been noted.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Javed, S |year=1992| title=Albinism in little brown dove |journal=[[Newsletter for Birdwatchers]] | volume=32| issue=3&4|page=12|url=https://archive.org/stream/NLBW32_34#page/n13/mode/2up}}</ref>

The chuckling call is a low rolling ''croo-doo-doo-doo-doo'' with a rising and falling amplitude.<ref>{{cite book|title=Popular handbook of Indian birds|edition=4th| publisher=Gurney and Jackson|place=London|author=Whistler, Hugh|year=1949|pages=397–398|url=https://archive.org/stream/popularhandbooko033226mbp#page/n448/mode/1up/}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
[[File:Dove Iran.jpg|thumb|Laughing dove, Iran]]
It is a common and widespread species in [[scrubland|scrub]], dry [[farm]]land, and in areas of human habitation, often becoming very tame. Its range includes much of Sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. It is also found in Cyprus, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the UAE, and Turkey (these populations may be derived from human introductions). They are mostly sedentary but some populations may make movements. Birds ringed in Gujarat have been recovered 200&nbsp;km north in Pakistan and exhausted birds have been recorded landing on ships in the Arabian Sea.<ref name=hbk /><ref>{{cite journal|title=The Birds of Sind. (Part V.)|author= Ticehurst, CB|doi= 10.1111/j.1474-919X.1923.tb08108.x| journal=Ibis| volume=65| issue=3| pages=438–473| year=1923}}</ref> The species (thought to belong to the nominate population) was introduced to Perth in 1889 and has become established around Western Australia.<ref name=emu76 /> Birds that land on ships may be introduced to new regions.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Kumar, Ashoke |year=1977| title=Assisted migration of birds by ships|journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume=74| issue=3|pages=531–533|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48239318}}</ref>

==Behaviour and ecology==
The species is usually seen in pairs or small parties and only rarely in larger groups. Larger groups are formed especially when drinking at waterholes in arid regions. Small numbers assemble on trees near waterholes before flying to the water's edge where they are able to suck up water like other members of the pigeon family.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Flocking as an anti-predator strategy in doves|author1=Siegfried WR |author2=LG Underhill | doi=10.1016/0003-3472(75)90126-8 |journal =Animal Behaviour| volume =23| issue=3| year=1975 | pages =504–508|s2cid=53172303 }}</ref> Laughing doves eat the fallen [[seed]]s, mainly of [[grass]]es, other vegetable matter and small ground insects such as termites and beetles.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Satheesan SM |author2=Prakash Rao |author3=H Datye |pages=452–453| title=Biometrics and food of some doves of the genus ''Streptopelia''| journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society|volume= 87| issue=3|year=1990|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48807180}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Continental Journal of Biological Sciences|volume=1| pages=1–9| year=2008|author1=Adang, KL |author2=Ezealor AU |author3=Abdu PA |author4=Yoriyo KP | title=Food habits of four sympatric columbids (Aves:Columbidae) in Zaria, Nigeria|url=https://archive.org/details/FoodHabitsOfFourSympatricColumbidsavesColumbidaeInZariaNigeria}}</ref> They are fairly terrestrial, foraging on the ground in [[grassland]]s and cultivation. Their flight is quick and direct with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the [[wing]]s characteristic of pigeons in general.<ref name=hbk /> 
[[File:Spilopelia senegalensis Egg.jpg|thumb|left|Nest on an olive tree with a typical clutch of two eggs, [[Djerba]] island]]
The male in courtship display follows the female with head bobbing displays while cooing. The male pecks its folded wings in "displacement-preening" to solicit copulation from the female. A female accepts by crouching and begging for food. The male may indulge in courtship feeding before mounting and copulating. Pairs may preen each other.<ref name=turkey/> Males may also launch into the air with wing clapping above their backs and then glide down in a gentle arc when displaying. The species has a spread out breeding season in Africa. Almost year-round in [[Malawi]] and [[Turkey]];<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal für Ornithologie| year=1997|volume =138| issue =3| pages=335–336| title=Winterbrut freilebender Palmtauben Streptopelia senegalensis|author= Biricik, Murat  |doi=10.1007/BF01651560| s2cid=20538661}}</ref> and mainly May to November in Zimbabwe, February to June in Egypt and Tunisia. In Australia the main breeding season is September to November.<ref name=emu76>{{cite journal|author1=Frith, HJ |author2=JL McKean |author3=LW Braithwaite | year=1976| title=Sexual cycles and food of the doves ''Streptopelia chinensis'' and ''S. senegalensis'' in Australia|journal=Emu| volume=76|issue=1 | pages=15–24|doi=10.1071/MU9760015|bibcode=1976EmuAO..76...15F }}</ref> The nest is a very flimsy platform of twigs built in a low bush and sometimes in crevices or under the eaves of houses. Both parents build the nest with males bringing the twigs which are then placed by the female. Two eggs are laid within an interval of a day between them and both parents take part in building the [[bird nest|nest]], incubating and feeding the young. Males spend more time incubating the nest during the day.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal für Ornithologie| year= 1993| volume =134| issue =3| pages=348–351 | title=Brutablösung bei freilebenden Palmtauben (Streptopelia senegalensis)|author1=Biricik, Murat |author2=Ahmet Kılıç |author3=Rüştü Şahin |doi=10.1007/BF01640432| s2cid= 25116410}}</ref> The eggs are incubated after the second egg is laid and the eggs hatch after about 13 to 15 days.<ref name=hbk /><ref>{{cite journal| author=Nene, RV |year=1979| title= Incubation and incubation period in the Indian Little Brown Dove ''Streptopelia senegalensis''| journal= Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume=76| issue=2|pages=362–363|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48240749}}</ref> Nesting adults may feign injury to distract and draw predators away from the nest.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Manakadan, Ranjit |year=1995| title= Distraction display in the Little Brown Dove ''Streptopelia senegalensis'' (Linn.)|journal= Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume=92|issue=2|page=265| url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48613810}}</ref> Multiple broods may be raised by the same pair in the same nest. Seven broods by the same pair have been noted in [[Turkey]].<ref name=turkey>{{cite journal|journal= Journal für Ornithologie |doi=10.1007/BF01649756| year=1989| volume =130|issue= 2| pages=217–228| title=Fortpflanzungsverhalten der Palmtaube (Streptopelia senegalensis): Paarbildung bis Eiablage|author1=Biricik, Murat |author2=Ahmet Kılıç |author3=Rüştü Şahin |s2cid=45204809}}</ref> Initially the altricial hatchlings are fed with regurgitated crop-milk, a secretion from the lining of the crop of parent birds.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianbirds.thedynamicnature.com/2017/07/laughing-dove-spilopelia-senegalensis.html | title=Laughing dove }}</ref> The young fledge and leave the nest after about 14 to 16 days.<ref>{{cite journal|last=George|first=M John |year=2000| title= Multiple brooding of the Little Brown Dove ''Streptopelia senegalensis''|journal= Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume=97| issue=2|pages=280–283|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48567714}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Kumar, CR Ajith |author2=Ramachandran, NK |year=1990| title= Incubation period of Indian Little Brown Dove ''Streptopelia senegalensis'' (Linn.)| journal= Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume= 87| issue=2| pages=299–300|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48807013}}</ref> The [[Jacobin cuckoo]] sometimes lays its egg in the nests of the laughing dove in Africa.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/stream/smithsonianmisce146196364smit#page/n164/mode/1up|title=Evolutionary trends in the genus ''Clamator''|author=Friedmann, H| year= 1964| journal=Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections|volume=164| issue=4|pages=1–106}}</ref>

Feral populations in Australia are sometimes infected by a virus that causes symptoms similar to that produced in parrots by psittacine beak and feather disease.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Raidal, SR  |author2=PA Riddoch|pages =829–836 |journal=Avian Pathology| volume =26|issue=4|year=1997 |title=A feather disease in Senegal doves (Streptopelia senegalensis) morphologically similar to psittacine beak and feather disease| doi= 10.1080/03079459708419256|pmid=18483948}}</ref> Several ectoparasitic [[bird louse|bird lice]] have been found on the species and include those in the genera ''[[Coloceras]]'', ''[[Columbicola]]'', ''[[Bonomiella]]'' and ''[[Hohorstiella]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Ledger, JA|year=1969|title=Ectoparasite load in a laughing dove with a deformed mandible|journal=Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology|volume=41|pages=191–194|url=http://phthiraptera.info/Publications/46213.pdf|doi=10.1080/00306525.1970.9634364|issue=3|access-date=2012-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002459/http://phthiraptera.info/Publications/46213.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> A blood parasite ''Trypanosoma hannae'' has been recorded in the species.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Bennett GF, Earlé RA, Squires-Parsons D |title= Trypanosomes of some sub-Saharan birds|journal= The Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research |year=1994| volume=61| issue=3|pages=263–271|pmid=7596580}}</ref> [[Southern grey shrike]] have been observed preying on an adult laughing dove in northwestern India while the [[lizard buzzard]] is a predator of the species in Africa.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Sharma, Ashok Kumar |year=1994| title= A Grey Shrike ''Lanius excubitor'' Linnaeus killing a full grown Little Brown Dove ''Streptopelia senegalensis'' (Linnaeus)|journal= Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume=91| issue=1| pages=142–143| url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48296523}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Howland, N  |author2=S. Howland|year=1987| title=Lizard Buzzard taking Laughing Dove| journal=Honeyguide |volume=33|pages=100–101}}</ref> South African birds sometimes show a beak deformity in which the upper mandible overgrowth occurs.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Markus, MB|year=1962| title=Laughing Dove ''Streptopelia senegalensis'' (Linnaeus) with a deformed upper mandible| journal=Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology |volume=33| page=37|doi=10.1080/00306525.1962.9633457}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="130px">
Laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis cambayensis) 2.jpg|''S. s cambayensis''  in  [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]
Laughing Doves, Rottnest Island.JPG|Feral ''S. s. senegalensis'', [[Rottnest Island]], [[Western Australia]]
Laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis senegalensis) female.jpg|Female ''S. s. senegalensis'', [[Gambia]]
Sqabs of palm dove.jpg|Squabs of ''S. senegalensis'', [[Dubai]], [[U.A.E.]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Spilopelia senegalensis}}
{{Wikispecies|Spilopelia senegalensis}}
* [https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Spilopelia-senegalensis Xeno-canto: audio recordings of the laughing dove]
* [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/355.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds].
* [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/laughing-dove-streptopelia-senegalensis Images and media]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q391198}}

[[Category:Spilopelia|laughing dove]]
[[Category:Birds of Africa]]
[[Category:Birds of the Canary Islands]]
[[Category:Birds of the Middle East]]
[[Category:Birds of South Asia]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1766|laughing dove]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus|laughing dove]]