This small dove is common throughout most of India, usually occupying arid habitats. This is an adult showing a characteristic rufous and black checkerboard neck-patch. Six to eight subspecies are recognized. The population in India is assigned to S. s. cambayensis. It is said to be smaller and duller than the nominate form in Africa; less rusty, more uniformly dull brown on its upperparts; and with a reduced blue-gray rump as seen here.
Cheke (2005) moved this species from the genus Streptopelia to the genus Stigmatopelia based on its genetic affinity with the Spotted Dove. This recommendation was followed by IUCN and by IOC through v2.2 after which IOC moved it to the genus Spilopelia. These two genera appear on the same page in the 1872 descriptions by Sundevall who used Stigmatopelia for the Laughing Dove and Spilopelia for the Spotted Dove. Cheke argued that Stigmatopelia has priority because it appears earlier on the page. However if one wants to put both Spotted and Laughing Doves in their own genus, Spilopelia is correct following clause 24(b) of the ICZN Code which supports the decision of the first reviser regardless of page priority. Most other authorities have avoided the issue by including both Laughing and Spotted Doves in Streptopelia.
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
References:
Ali, S & SD Ripley (1987). Compact Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Edition 2. Oxford University Press.
Baptista, L.F., Trail, P.W. & Horblit, H.M. (2016). Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/54164 on 26 June 2016).
Cheke, A.S. (2005). Naming segregates from the Columba-Streptopelia pigeons following DNA studies on phylogeny. Bulletin of the British Ornithologistsf Club 125:293-295
Rasmussen, P.C. & Anderton, J.C. (2005) Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Vols. 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions, Washington, D.C. & Barcelona.