Breeding Ecology and Nesting of the Laughing Dove (Spilopelia Senegalensis) in District Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan

Abstract

The Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) is a widely distributed columbid species whose breeding ecology remains insufficiently studied in many parts of South Asia. The present study was conducted in District Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to investigate the breeding ecology, modification patterns, and factors influencing reproductive success of the species. Fieldwork was carried out during the 2024 breeding season, and a total of 87 nests were examined across different habitats. Data were collected on nest position, height, tree species preference, clutch size, hatching and fledging success, and causes of breeding failure. The results indicated that Laughing Doves preferred nesting in the middle portions of trees (44.82%), followed by forks (35.63%) and terminal branches (19.54%). The majority of nests were constructed at moderate heights between 3.1–4.0 m, particularly on Quercus incana (31.03%) and Olea ferruginea (16.09%). The mean clutch size was 2.0 eggs per nest, of which 67.74% hatched and only 20.68% successfully fledged. Predation (12.90% of eggs; 24.13% of nestlings), hunting (19.35% of eggs; 36.78% of nestlings), and accidental nestling falls (18.39%) were identified as the major causes of breeding failure. These findings demonstrate that while Laughing Doves exhibit ecological adaptability in nest site selection and vegetation use, their breeding success is constrained by natural predation and human disturbance. The study contributes new baseline information on the species’ ecology in Pakistan and highlights the importance of habitat protection, hunting control, and community involvement in avifaunal conservation. Long-term monitoring and comparative studies with other Columbidae species are recommended to strengthen understanding of breeding dynamics under changing ecological conditions.

Keywords: Laughing Dove, breeding ecology, nest site selection, clutch size, breeding success, predation, Pakistan.