Interview with a Nicobar Pigeon

We have with us a Nicobar pigeon, the closest living relative of the dodo bird. They are 16 inches long and proficient fliers. You have been in the shadow of the dodo bird for who knows how long . . .

The first recorded description of a Nicobar pigeon is from 1738 by English naturalist Eleazar Albin in his A Natural History of Birds. So no sooner than that. But it wasn’t until the mid-1800s that you folks even believed the dodo was real, so it’s only been less than 200 years.

So about 100 years of freedom. Do you feel up to the challenge? Those are big shoes to fill.

It’s hard to compete with a martyr, the poster child of extinct animals. But I think we are up to it. I mean, we’ve got the looks. We’ve got the moves. If it were between us as living birds, we’d win by a mile.

That is very true. You are stunning. So . . . why do you make nests out of sticks of all things?

That is a long-standing tradition among many pigeons species. Why mess with tradition?

Sticking with the family, I see. How far do you range from home?

We island hop quite a bit around southeast Asia and Oceania, but one crazy buddy of mine back in 2023 flew all the way to Green Island in the north of Queensland, Australia.

Quite a flight! One last thing. Can you share with us an embarrassing memory?

That’s a tough one. Let me think. . . . Now, this isn’t me, per se. But most Nicobar pigeons, instead of sipping at their water like civilized birds, drink by submerging their entire bill and sucking up the water like their face is a straw!

Ha! Way to throw your friends under the bus. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.