What to Know About the Laughing Dove in Uganda?

The Laughing Dove in Uganda is one of the African Uganda Bird Species seen during Uganda bird watching tours. The laughing dove) is a small pigeon that is a resident breeder in Queen Elizabeth national park-Uganda.

This small long-tailed dove is found in dry scrub and semi-desert habitats where pairs can often be seen feeding on the ground.

A rufous and black chequered necklace gives it a distinctive pattern and is also easily distinguished from other doves by its call.

Other names include palm dove. It has Length: 25-27cm, Wingspan: 40-45cm, Weight: 70-92g.

How Does the Laughing Dove in Uganda Look Like?

The Laughing Dove has peculiar feature, making it different from other Columbidae species. This dove has the feathers used in displays on the fore neck, instead of the nape or the hindneck.

This dove has pinkish head. A broad band of black feathers with cinnamon tips crosses the fore neck and the upper breast.

Mantle, scapulars and inner coverts are reddish-brown to orange-brown. Outer coverts, back and rump vary from blue-grey to pale grey.

On the upperparts, the male adult has mauve-pink head and hindneck. Back and most part of wing coverts are reddish to red-brown.

Rump and upper tail-coverts are blue-grey. The throat is mauve-pink, with paler chin. We can see a broad band of golden copper feathers with black base on fore neck and neck sides.

On the underparts, the breast in mauve-pink and the belly is creamy-white. Under tail-coverts are white. On the upper wing, the inner coverts are reddish to red-brown, as the back.

The outer coverts are blue-grey. The primary and secondary flight feathers are brown to blackish-grey.

The upper tail shows grey-brown central rectrices, whereas the outer ones are grey and white-tipped.  The bill is dark grey-brown. The eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are purple-pink.

The female is similar in plumage but duller than male. The juvenile is paler and lacks the neck pattern.

How Does the Laughing Dove in Uganda Sing and Make Calls?

The Laughing Dove’s song resembles a human laugh. This variable and unobtrusive phrase of 6-8 soft notes “cou ku RU kuru-koou” can be hear all year round, included at night, but less frequently.

How Does the Laughing Dove in Uganda Feed?

The Laughing Dove feeds on grains and seeds, but also takes small insects, flies, ants and termites. This species favors the sunflower seeds and the grains of maize.

In addition, it consumes fruits, nectar from Aloe, some invertebrates and small snails.

How Does the Laughing Dove in Uganda Nest?

The nest is a flimsy platform built by the female, made with roots, twigs and stems often brought by the male.

It is usually situated between 3 and 15metres above the ground. The same nest can be used several times, and some doves use old abandoned nests of other birds’ species.

How Does the Laughing Dove in Uganda Breed?

The breeding season varies according to the range. The Laughing Dove is monogamous, solitary and territorial. The pair-bonds are for the life.

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.

Males may also launch into the air with wing clapping sounds and then glide down in a gentle arc when displaying.

How Does the Laughing Dove in Uganda Reproduce?

Two glossy white eggs are laid by the female within an interval of a day. The incubation lasts about two weeks mainly by the female, but the male may replace her sometimes.

The chicks have reddish skin and yellowish down. They leave the nest 12-13 days after hatching but they do not fly. They are fed by regurgitation and they fledge at 15-17 days of age.