Nicobar Pigeon

Scientific Name: Caloenas nicobarica Animal Type: Bird Location: Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vietnam Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Profile

Apart from their drooping, irridescent, rainbow-coloured plumage, the main claim to fame of these unusual birds is that they are the closest living relative of the dodo.  Since arriving at Durrell's headquarters in Jersey in 2004, Nicobar pigeons have bred successfully, and several can usually be seen in the Jewels of the Forest exhibit, often perching quietly on the branches.

Nicobar pigeons live in large flocks, moving around from island to island, as well as mainland south-east Asia, in search of their preferred food - seeds, fruit and invertebrates. 

When the breeding season starts, the birds retreat to very small, wooded, uninhabited offshore islands.  Clearance of these islands for plantations, and the introduction of alien predators, is therefore a major threat.  The pigeons are also sometimes trapped for food - an alarming echo of the dodo's fate.