laughing dove

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laughing dove

bird

Also known as: Streptopelia senegalensis, senegal dove

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Also called:: Senegal Dove

Related Topics:: dove

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laughing dove, (Streptopelia senegalensis), bird of the pigeon family, Columbidae (order Columbiformes), a native of African and southwest Asian scrublands that has been successfully introduced into Australia. The reddish-brown bird has blue markings on its wings, a white edge on its long tail, purplish legs, and a black bill. The copper-tipped feathers on the neck are prominent during the “bowing display” of courtship. The monogamous pair care for a clutch of two white eggs. Its call has a musical, bubbly quality, different from the cooing sound of most doves.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.