Nicobar pigeon with iridescent green and blue feathers perched among wet, leafy branches.

Nicobar Pigeon

Paignton Zoo is home to 3 Nicobar pigeons, who live up in the ABC aviaries.

Nicobar PigeonCaloenas nicobarica

  • Class:

    Aves

  • Order:

    Columbiformes

  • Family:

    Columbidae

About the nicobar pigeon

The Nicobar pigeon is a striking island species native to the Nicobar Islands and parts of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and coastal Malaysia. It inhabits lowland forest, mangroves, and coastal woodland.

With a grey body and iridescent green wing sheen, this species feeds primarily on fruit and seeds. It is considered one of the closest living relatives of the extinct dodo.

Conservation

The species is classified as Near Threatened, with habitat loss and hunting across island forests in Southeast Asia contributing to population pressures.