Laughing Dove breeds in Greece for first time

A new paper has reported the details behind the first recorded breeding Laughing Doves in Greece.

This small dove species, which is mainly found in Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, has undertaken significant range expansion this century.

Since spreading north-west within Africa to Morocco, Laughing Dove colonised the Canary Islands in 2002. The population there is now thought to amount to approximately 1,000 birds. Small numbers are now established in mainland Spain, in Andalucía, as well as on Ibiza in the Balearics. The species has also bred on the Italian island of Pantelleria since 2004 and in Cyprus since 2017.

Residents in the village of Loutra, Lesbos, have been feeding the village's Laughing Doves (David Bradshaw).

Dove on the increase

The observations published in the journal Ecologia Balkanica revealed that a successful breeding pair of Laughing Doves was found on the Greek island of Lesbos in September 2021, in the village of Loutra. The pair fledged two young and the next spring saw the discovery of two pairs.

Turkey is a likely source for the Greek birds, with that country supporting a large population which may have seeded from introduced birds.

The last few years have also seen notable sightings in Madeira and Cape Verde. Some have even appeared in France, though the provenance of these birds is unclear.

Reference

Zannetos, S, Galinou, E, and Akriotis, T. 2023. First breeding record of Laughing dove Spilopelia senegalensis for Greece. Ecologia Balkanica, 15(1).