Laughing Dove vs African Collared Dove

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Also known as: Senegal Dove, Little Brown Dove

How to recognise a laughing dove?

General appearance

Laughing doves are small birds with a long tail, identifiable by their warm brown-grey blush, distinctive scalloped collars, and a rufous hue in their feathers. They are the epitome of soothing aesthetics with blush-pink necks, blending into an ashy-grey mantle and a pale greyish belly. Their red-rimmed eyes are a key feature.

Male vs female

Males and females look very similar, making them difficult to distinguish. However, males tend to be slightly larger and may have a more vibrant collar around their neck, while females appear paler and smaller.

Juvenile

Juvenile laughing doves exhibit less contrast compared to adults. They feature a poorly developed collar and a lighter brown grey shade. As they grow older, their feathers will darken and the collar will become more distinct.

Size

9.1 - 10.6 in/2.5 - 3.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Laughing Dove typically resides in arid areas such as deserts and semi-deserts, farmlands, open woodlands, and urban areas in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.

Additional range

Extraordinarily, this species has adapted to a wide variety of conditions and can also be found in unexpected environments like city centres and even high-altitude areas of up to 2000 meters.

Range Map

What do laughing doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The laughing dove primarily feeds on a variety of seeds from grasses and plants. It is known to forage on the ground, searching for seeds from weeds, cereals, and small plants. In addition to seeds, the diet includes small insects, such as termites and beetles, as well as small quantities of fruits and berries, which supplement its nutrition.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, laughing doves commonly consume a variety of grains and seeds, particularly those found in typical seed mixes. They are fond of millet, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds. The doves may also eat bread crumbs or small cereal pieces, which are sometimes offered at feeders, although their primary preference remains seeds and grains.

What does a laughing dove sound like?

The laughing dove produces a series of low pitched, rhythmic cooing sounds, typically characterized by the iconic "coo-oo, coo, coo, coo". Its name comes from the distinctive 'laughing' sound intrinsic to its regular call. Its song, often heard at dawn and dusk, is a repetitious cooing sequence, generally considered soothing and pleasant. Apart from these, when alarmed, it also produces a short and abrupt "wo-wo-wo" sound.

Call

Audio by MRG90

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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African Collared Dove

Streptopelia roseogrisea

How to recognise an African collared dove?

General appearance

The African Collared-Dove is slightly smaller than the Eurasian Collared-Dove. They generally possess a light grey feather coat with distinctive black semi-circular line on the back of their neck, giving them their collared name. It is difficult to distinguish them from the Eurasian variety as their appearance in the wild is rare.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance, making it difficult to differentiate between sexes based on visual features. Both genders strut the same light grey coloration with contrasting black neck collars. Size and behavior patterns may sometimes provide clues, but visual identification remains challenging.

Juvenile

Juvenile African Collared-Doves resemble adults but lack the characteristic black collar. Their plumage is slightly duller than adults and they feature less distinct markings. With age, they develop the collar and their feather coloring shifts towards the grey hue distinctive of the species.

Size

9.8 - 10.6 in/4.6 - 5.9 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The African collared dove prefers semi-arid regions, savannas, and open woodlands. It thrives in areas with access to water and sparse tree cover.

Additional range

Though primarily found in Sub-Saharan Africa, it occasionally occupies urban gardens and agricultural lands, demonstrating adaptability to human-altered landscapes.

Range Map

What do African collared doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The African collared dove primarily feeds on a variety of seeds, which constitute the main component of its natural diet. It is known to forage on the ground, seeking out seeds from grasses and other plants. They may also consume small quantities of insects and other invertebrates, especially during the breeding season when protein requirements are higher. Fruits and berries are occasionally part of their diet, providing essential vitamins and minerals.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, African collared doves are attracted to a range of seeds commonly provided, such as millet, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn. These birds are also adaptive and may consume commercially available birdseed mixes. They may visit feeders frequently, especially in urban and suburban areas where such food sources are regularly replenished by humans.

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Laughing Dove

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African Collared Dove

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Also known as: Senegal Dove, Little Brown Dove

General appearance

Laughing doves are small birds with a long tail, identifiable by their warm brown-grey blush, distinctive scalloped collars, and a rufous hue in their feathers. They are the epitome of soothing aesthetics with blush-pink necks, blending into an ashy-grey mantle and a pale greyish belly. Their red-rimmed eyes are a key feature.

Male vs female

Males and females look very similar, making them difficult to distinguish. However, males tend to be slightly larger and may have a more vibrant collar around their neck, while females appear paler and smaller.

Juvenile

Juvenile laughing doves exhibit less contrast compared to adults. They feature a poorly developed collar and a lighter brown grey shade. As they grow older, their feathers will darken and the collar will become more distinct.

Size

9.1 - 10.6 in/2.5 - 3.2 oz

There's more to learn about Laughing Dove

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African Collared Dove

Streptopelia roseogrisea

General appearance

The African Collared-Dove is slightly smaller than the Eurasian Collared-Dove. They generally possess a light grey feather coat with distinctive black semi-circular line on the back of their neck, giving them their collared name. It is difficult to distinguish them from the Eurasian variety as their appearance in the wild is rare.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance, making it difficult to differentiate between sexes based on visual features. Both genders strut the same light grey coloration with contrasting black neck collars. Size and behavior patterns may sometimes provide clues, but visual identification remains challenging.

Juvenile

Juvenile African Collared-Doves resemble adults but lack the characteristic black collar. Their plumage is slightly duller than adults and they feature less distinct markings. With age, they develop the collar and their feather coloring shifts towards the grey hue distinctive of the species.

Size

9.8 - 10.6 in/4.6 - 5.9 oz

There's more to learn about African Collared Dove

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How to tell the Laughing Dove from the African Collared Dove

Visual differences

The Laughing Dove (9-10.6 inches, 2.5-3.2 ounces) features warm brown-grey blush plumage with a rufous tint and scalloped collars, plus red-rimmed eyes. In contrast, the African Collared Dove (9.8-10.6 inches, 4.6-5.9 ounces) exhibits light grey feathers with a distinct black semi-circular collar on its neck. Both species have similar dimensions, but the African Collared Dove is noticeably heavier, and both male and female individuals are difficult to differentiate visually. Laughing Doves have a more colorful and varied plumage, while African Collared Doves possess a more uniform, grey appearance.

Key differences and behavior

The Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) and African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) exhibit distinct behaviors despite some overlap. Laughing Doves are solitary or seen in pairs, whereas African Collared Doves are highly sociable, often in flocks. Laughing Doves adapt to diverse environments, from deserts to urban areas, displaying elaborate courtship with coos and flights. Conversely, African Collared Doves prefer semi-arid regions with water, engaging in more aerial displays. Both species share a diet of seeds and small insects, but Laughing Doves focus more on ground foraging, while African Collared Doves frequent feeders in urban locales. In breeding, both doves co-parent, but Laughing Doves nest in varied sites, while African Collared Doves favor tree cover. Laughing Doves weigh 2.5-3.2 oz, while African Collared Doves are heavier at 4.6-5.9 oz.