What if I told you the dodo isn’t completely gone?
Okay, you can’t exactly see a dodo waddling around today—they’ve been extinct for centuries. But nature left us a parting gift: the Nicobar pigeon. This jaw-droppingly beautiful bird is the closest living relative of the legendary dodo.
Before you imagine some dull, gray city pigeon, think again. The Nicobar pigeon looks like it walked straight out of a fantasy movie. It sports feathers that shimmer in metallic shades of green, blue, and copper, like an artist splashed it with watercolors. And with its white tail and mane-like neck feathers, it’s impossible not to stare.
These birds live on the Indian Nicobar Islands, where the lack of predators allowed them to evolve such bright, bold colors. When you don’t need to hide for survival, you get to show off!
But here’s where things take a sad turn. Just like the dodo, the Nicobar pigeon is now in danger. Hunting, habitat loss, and invasive predators—like cats and rats—are threatening their existence. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s exactly what wiped out the dodo 300 years ago. Are we really about to let history repeat itself?
The Nicobar pigeon isn’t just a pretty face. It’s bigger than most pigeons—about 40 cm long—and prefers hanging out on the ground, where it feasts on fallen fruits and seeds. Despite being capable of powerful, fast flight, it seems to enjoy a chill, ground-level lifestyle.
Sadly, humans haven’t been kind to these birds. Their gizzard stones (tiny rocks in their stomachs) are harvested for jewelry, and they’re often caught for food and the pet trade.
So, while the Nicobar pigeon might give us a glimpse into what the dodo could’ve been, it’s also a stark reminder: Once a species is gone, there’s no getting it back.
Will we protect these stunning birds, or will they vanish like their famous ancestor? Share this with friends and spread the word—because the Nicobar pigeon deserves more than just a footnote in history.
