Fun Facts!

The Senebal dove is also known as the laughing dove - they have a soft, five or six note musical call that sounds like a bubbly laugh.

The Senegal dove’s beautiful colors and its ease of breeding make it a favorite pet bird in captivity.

Senegal Dove

Streptopelia senegalensis

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

The Senegal dove is a brightly colored member of the dove family. Several different colors can be found on its body, including a mainly pale pink body,  a band of orange at its neck with black speckling, and black and gray on its wings and tail feathers. Like most species of birds, the males are more brightly colored than the females. Its overall body length is about 10-12 inches.

HABITAT

They are native to northern Africa, Arabia, India, Afghanistan, and Turkey, and make their home in scrub or thorny bush country near a source of water. They have adapted well living near humans in gardens, villages and towns.

DIET IN THE WILD

Their diet is mostly made up of seeds and grains, like wheat, millet, and dari. They also eat small amounts of green vegetables.

BEHAVIOR

They spend most of their time walking on the ground with heads down looking for food.

CONSERVATION EFFORTS

There are no current conservations efforts needed for Senegal doves, since their numbers are strong. In fact, they have been known to raise 6-8 broods of chicks in a year.

LIFE SPAN

They typically live from 5-10 years in the wild. Some have lived for as many as 30 years in captivity.