Why the laughing dove is the most musical bird in the pigeon family

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Unlike the standard cooing of its relatives, the laughing dove produces a unique, effervescent chuckling call. This slim, long-tailed bird, common across Africa and parts of Asia, has successfully colonized new territories, including Australia, where it thrives in both arid scrublands and the bustling areas of human habitation.

The laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis, has a complex taxonomic history. Originally described by Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760, it was later classified by Carl Linnaeus in 1766 as Columba senegalensis. For many years, it was grouped within the genus Streptopelia, but a 2001 molecular phylogenetic study revealed this classification was paraphyletic. Consequently, the species was moved to the resurrected genus Spilopelia, a name originally introduced by Carl Sundevall in 1873 to ensure monophyletic groupings.

Physically, the laughing dove is distinguished by its pinkish-brown plumage, a lilac-tinged head, and a characteristic chequered rufous and grey patch on the sides of the neck. Measuring about 25 cm in length, these birds are primarily terrestrial foragers, feeding on grass seeds and small insects. Their breeding behavior is equally fascinating; pairs build flimsy nests in low bushes or under house eaves, where they raise clutches of two eggs. Both parents share incubation duties, with males often taking the lead during daylight hours. To protect their young, adults have been known to feign injury to lure predators away from the nest.

The species is remarkably adaptable, having established feral populations in Western Australia following an introduction in 1889. While generally sedentary, some birds exhibit movement, occasionally landing on ships in the Arabian Sea. Despite their success, they face various biological challenges, including ectoparasitic lice and blood parasites like Trypanosoma hannae. Furthermore, they are occasionally targeted by predators such as the lizard buzzard in Africa and the southern grey shrike in India. Their resilience, however, remains evident in their ability to raise multiple broods in a single season, with some pairs in Turkey documented raising as many as seven.

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