Strutting in as our next bird; the Nicobar pigeon.

The nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) is a pretty good sized pigeon from India! The bird, while known for its fantastic, beaming rainbow iridescent feathers is also known for being the closest living relative of the dodo (yes, the dodo was a pigeon!) and also near threatened. It is also the only living member in its genus. Amazing!

Animal of the Day!

Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)

(Photo from Smithsonian Magazine)

Extinction Date- 1681

Habitat- Island of Mauritius

Size (Weight/Length)- 22 kg; 90 cm tall

Diet- Fruits; Nuts; Roots; Seeds

Cool Facts- As dodos went extinct in the 1600’s, we only know what they look like from incomplete skeletons and illustrations. These large birds were found only on the tiny Island of Mauritius off the coast of Madagascar. Little is known about their behavior but their skeletons imply they could run extremely fast despite being unable to fly. Their large beak may have been used in territorial displays due to the Island’s limited resources. They were primarily vegetarians but would occasionally eat a crab or shellfish. People first visited the Island of Mauritius in 1507 and the dodos were quickly hunted by people and invasive species alike due to their flightless and fearless behavior. Today, the near threatened Nicobar pigeon is their closest relative. Cracking down on the illegal pet trade and their illegal poaching has resulted in the Nicobar pigeon doing much better than their long since passed relative.

Rating- 13/10 (Dodos were originally thought to be a myth and extinction to be propaganda.)

0.006 the nicobar pigeon is the closest living relative of the dodo

Nicobar pigeon

The side-profile of a Nicobar Pigeon.

Photo by Rob Potter on Unsplash

Trick or treat! :> cooo coo

:O a pigeon!!!!

Nicobar Pigeon!

sirocco's put together a more colorful disguise and since i've gotta do a commission featuring him, i pre-planned his new look a little

ID: Sketchy digital illustration of an anthro nicobar pigeon man wearing a semi-sheer iridescent white robe that is belted around the middle. He's holding a wooden walking staff. His feathers are gray with rainbow iridescent color.

In the Mysterious Papua walk in aviary, a Nicobar Pigeon or dove was nesting right next to the walkway just out of reach to the human hand. A few of its feathery friends are pecking at plates of what look like fresh salad.

Battle Royale

Family Reunion (C-2)

Some families are more popular than others, you know? It's a miracle there wasn't a submission for ever single corvid that's ever existed. Instead, we have these guys.

[ID: two images of doves, the first being the Galápagos dove. orange-brown with dark brown patterned wings and light blue around its eyes, along with a brown and white stripe. the second, the Nicobar pigeon, large, multicoloured, covered in long, iridescent feathers stands on a tree.]

nicobar pigeon | source

See my entry for the 11th International Award on Scientific and Nature Illustration here! http://blog.illustraciencia.info/2024/03/noll-griffin-nicobar-pigeon.html As well as a lot of other beautiful nature illustrations from other artists on the main page.

Nicobar pigeon - Caolenas nicobarica 

Near threatened

The nicobar pigeon lives on the Andaman and Nicobar islands in India, east through the Malay archipelago to the Solomons and Palau. They consume primarily seeds, fruit, buds, and occasionally insects. These birds are the closest living relative to the dodo. They are grayish-blue in color, with an iridescent body in many different colors.

They are primarily threatened by hunting and deforestation.

celebrity style for birds. what do you guys thinmk

Nicobar Pigeon