Laughing Dove

Afrikaans name: Rooiborsduifie

Laughing Doves are common garden birds

Photo © Steven Herbert

Spilopelia senegalensis

The Laughing Dove is found throughout South Africa. In some areas of the country it is abundant and resident while in others it is more nomadic. In some areas it is a common visitor to gardens. The Laughing Dove is also found in most of sub-Saharan Africa as well as some of the Middle East and southern Asia.

Their call is bubbling and low-key and supposedly resembles a laughing noise.

Males are a big more brightly coloured than females. Juveniles are even paler and the chest markings are less distinct.

Laughing Doves mainly eat seeds and grain but will also eat some insects.

They build a flimsy nest in a tree. The female normally lays two eggs.

When courting the male approaches the female with his chest puffed out and he bobs his head up and down.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	317	Stigmatopelia senegalensis aeguatorialis
2nd	317	Stigmatopelia senegalensis
3rd	317	Stigmatopelia senegalensis
4th	317	Stigmatopelia senegalensis
5th	355	Spilopelia senegalensis
6th	355	Spilopelia senegalensis
7th	185	Spilopelia senegalensis

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	317	Laughing Dove
2nd	317	Laughing Dove
3rd	317	Laughing Dove
4th	317	Laughing Dove
5th	355	Laughing Dove
6th	355	Laughing Dove
7th	185	Laughing Dove

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	317	Lemoen-duifie
2nd	317	Rooibors-duifie
3rd	317	Rooibors-duifie
4th	317	Rooibors-duifie
5th	355	Rooiborsduifie
6th	355	Rooiborsduifie
7th	185	Rooiborsduifie

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 52

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 44

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 106

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 48

The Doves, Parrots, Louries & Cuckoos of Southern Africa - Author: M.K. Rowan - Published: 1983 - Page: 84

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 136

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 162

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 22

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 128

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 308

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 305

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 216

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 224

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 228

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 219

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 86

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 169

Newman s Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 32

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 196

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 196

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 51

Geoff Lockwood s Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 34

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 152

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 410

Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 10

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 180

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 59

Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 47

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 158

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 100

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 14

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 36

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 116

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 37

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 65

Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 2 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 6

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 116

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 94

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 206

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 134

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 80

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 115

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 142

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 115

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List of South African Birds