This small dove is common throughout most of Africa, usually occupying arid habitats. This is an adult showing its characteristic speckled rufous neck-band.
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.
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