Factors influencing nest site selection in Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) in an urban landscape in Karaj, Iran

Abstract Urban habitats, such as natural ones, are rapidly changing. Thus, conservation and management of species adapted to urban environments can be challenging. Nest site selection is a pivotal point in the process of habitat selection and breeding in bird species. We investigated the influence of several spatial and structural factors on the nest site selection of Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) in an urban landscape in Karaj, Iran. We also surveyed the feasibility of occupying artificial nest boxes (n = 17) by Laughing Doves between February and September 2019. We recorded 32 nest presence sites and 64 random nest absence sites. To model nest site selection, we conducted a spline binary logistic regression analysis. Three variables were identified as significant factors influencing the nest site selection of Laughing Dove: Nest height from the ground (p = 0.04), with an optimal range of 290–350 cm; nest detection chance (p = 0.06), invisible places from the front and sides were most favorable; and distance to opposite building (p = 0.07), with an optimal range of 15–38 m. The occupancy rate of the artificial nest boxes was 35.3%. This study showed that nest site selection of the urban-adapted Laughing Dove is highly dependent on the security and food provided by humans.