Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica Is Closest Relative of Extinct Dodo

Summary: Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica), an Old World pigeon native to Indian and Pacific Ocean islands, is the extinct Dodo bird's closest living relative.

Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica): Tomfriedel, CC BY 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons

Caloenas nicobarica is an Old World pigeon native to island environments of Oceania and Southeast Asia.

The brilliantly colored pigeon claims island homes in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as in a medley of their seas, from Andaman Sea eastward to South China Sea and southeastward through Indonesia’s seas.

Caloenas nicobarica’s native range includes India’s Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar islands; Malay Archipelago, especially Indonesia and the Philippines; southeastern Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago; Palau; northern Papua New Guinea; and the Solomon Islands.

Caloenas nicobarica is known commonly in English as Nicobar Dove or Nicobar Pigeon.

The Nicobar Pigeon claims fame as the closest living relative of two extinct, flightless, Indian Ocean pigeons. The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was only found on Mauritius, an island of biodiverse rarities in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The Rodrigues solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria) was found only on Mauritius’ outer island, Rodrigues, about 350 miles (560 kilometers) to the east.

Classification as a near-threatened species in 2012 reflects concern for the Nicobar Pigeon’s declining population. Livelihood threats are especially posed by habitat destruction, hunting for local pet markets, and trapping as food source and also for gizzard stone for jewelry.

As a large pigeon, the Nicobar Pigeon measures an adult length of 15.75 to 16.14 inches (40 to 41 centimeters). Males are slightly larger than females.

Dramatic contrasts of color include blue-grey heads; blue-grey hackles, or neck feathers, with dramatic copper overtones; dark green and orange-yellow iridescent body feathers; conspicuous, short, pure white tail feather; and reddish legs.

The Nicobar Pigeon favors woodsy habitats. Forest environments provide such forage as nuts and seeds.

As a small island specialist, the strong flier undauntedly roams away in flocks from food sources on islands and mainlands to establish breeding site colonies on less disturbed and less populated, offshore wooded islets. Small bushes and trees offer desirable sites for the Nicobar Pigeon’s stick nest, which shelters a solitary oval, white egg.

Captive breeding programs, which control breeding in conservation facilities, meet the demand by zoos worldwide for the Nicobar Pigeon. Prestigious zoos featuring the brilliantly-feathered pigeon include Canada’s Toronto Zoo, Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, Northern Ireland’s Belfast Zoo and Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo.

famous oil-on-canvas painting of Dodo by Roelandt Savery (ca. 1587-Feb. 25, 1639): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica): Tomfriedel, CC BY 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nicobar_Pigeon_820.jpg

famous oil-on-canvas painting of Dodo by Roelandt Savery (ca. 1576-Feb 25, 1639), Natural History Museum, London: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edwards'_Dodo.jpg