Comparable to the dinosaurs, the dodo bird has become extinct on Earth, yet its presence remains ingrained in popular culture. Observing a dodo bird in our lifetime is an impossibility, but the silver lining lies in the existence of the Nicobar pigeon, the closest living relative of the legendary dodo. Despite its association with the extinct flightless bird of Mauritius Island, the Nicobar pigeon bears no resemblance to the dodo bird's distinctive features.
Residing in the Indian Nicobar Islands, these enchanting birds have evolved their vibrant and iridescent plumage due to the absence of natural predators on the small islands. Freed from the need to conceal themselves from threats, they developed brilliant feathers that distinguish them from other pigeon or dove species.
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| Image Credit; leonardvcohen/Instagram |
While both the Nicobar pigeon and the dodo bird share the trait of being island dwellers, the former also shares the dodo's vulnerability to extinction. Tragically, factors such as hunting, habitat loss, and the introduction of non-native predators like cats and rodents to their nesting islands have led to the classification of these magnificent ground-dwelling birds as "near threatened." Ironically, these are the same factors that led to the dodo bird's disappearance from the natural world three hundred years ago. History appears poised to repeat itself. Will we heed the lessons of the past or make the same mistakes again?
The feathers of the Nicobar pigeon display a diverse array of colors, resembling a watercolor palette.
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| Image Credit; leonardvcohen/Instagram |
With a size of 40 cm, it surpasses other pigeons, boasting upper parts adorned in an attractive metallic blue-green and copper-bronze hue.
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| Image Credit; leonardvcohen/Instagram |
Easily recognizable by its strikingly contrasting white tail coverts and tail, the Nicobar pigeon features gleaming mane-like neck hackles.
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| Image Credit; leonardvcohen/Instagram |
Females are smaller than males, characterized by brown underparts and shorter neck hackles. Despite its capability for swift and powerful flight over considerable distances, the Nicobar pigeon prefers ground feeding, plucking fleshy fruits and seeds from the forest floor.
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| Image Credit; leonardvcohen/Instagram |
Regrettably, the gizzard stones extracted from these birds are not only used for jewelry production but are also harvested for food and the pet trade.
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