Feeding and foraging behaviour of the Laughing DoveStreptopelia senegalensis in Lucknow, India
Mazumdar A., Kumar P.Abstract:
The Laughing dove is a resident species and is found all across India. They occur abundantly in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. We conducted a gut content analysis and observed their foraging behaviour on the farmlands located on the city outskirts and at granaries and storehouses in the city and on its outskirts between July, 2005 and June, 2006. Among gut contents we were able to identify and quantify grains of wheat, millet and rice along with seeds of sunflower, grass and 10 species of weeds. Among animal matter were ants, termites, spiders and dipteran larvae. Their foraging behaviour matched well with their gut contents and we made 1200 observations on plant matter and 80 observations on animal matter. During nesting period they foraged individually for shorter durations. Presence of roosting sites increased foraging activities.