Tag: dodo

although frequently assumed to be grouped with other birds, the dodo was a large member of the pigeon family. its closest living relative is the nicobar pigeon, a bird with striking iridescent plumage that is found mainly on small islands in asia. the nicobar pigeon feeds on fruits, seeds, and insects, and lives in small flocks. adult birds have a distinct white tail; the sexes are similar, but females are slightly smaller. unfortunately, the nicobar pigeon is rated ‘near threatened’ by the iucn as of 2018, mainly due to hunting.

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bird of the day: the tooth-billed pigeon

the tooth-billed pigeon is a medium-sized pigeon that lives only on the island of samoa.

this pigeon is one of the closest living relatives of the dodo. they share some of the same physical features, including the distinct hooked beak. they are sometimes known as the “little dodo” for this reason.

unfortunately, there are very few of the tooth-billed pigeon left in the world. it is estimated less than 250 remain. there are no birds at all in captivity. for this reason, they are listed as critically endangered by the iucn. habitat loss and hunting are two of the main contributing factors to their decline.

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