Nicobar Pigeon—A Jewel of the Andaman Sea
- devanandpaul
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Know the Nicobar pigeon—a vibrant island-hopping bird and the closest living relative of the extinct dodo—on the Similan Islands, Thailand.
As a birder and wildlife photographer, I love exploring new places and sighting different bird species. Each encounter with a new bird fascinates me—their colours, calls, and curious behaviours. I bring these wonders to you through my blogs. Here is my latest experience: Nicobar pigeon, from Similan Islands.
Similan Islands
A warm, sunny morning we took a speedboat from Phuket, Thailand, to the Similan Islands, an archipelago of 11 emerald isles in the Andaman Sea, which constitute the Mu Ko Similan Marine National Park, in Phang Nga Province (Thailand). Featuring white-sand beaches and vibrant coral reefs, the park is a diving paradise. Our object was to find the Nicobar pigeon, a rare and dazzling ground-dwelling bird that resides on Ko Miang (Island 4; all the islands have a name, yet they are also referred to with numbers).
After reaching Miang Island, we walked towards the far end of a campsite, where pigeons are often seen feeding on the ground. And there it was—a Nicobar pigeon, its feathers shimmering in shades of green, blue, and bronzy orange under the sunlight. It walked calmly among tangled roots, unbothered by our presence. A few more appeared nearby—a congregation of glowing colours. The sight left me spellbound.
Shy and quiet, the Nicobar pigeon has a snow-white tail easily visible only when the bird is flushed.
Habitat and Distribution
From the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Palau (Micronesia) and the Malay Archipelago, the Nicobar pigeon thrives in lowland rainforests, mangroves, and coastal scrublands.
Unlike other pigeons, which generally stay in one area year-round, the Nicobar pigeon is an archipelago hopper, often flying between islands in search of food or nesting grounds. Being social, they live in large colonies, sometimes in the hundreds. At night, they roost together on offshore islets.
Feeding Habits and Unique Adaptations
The Nicobar pigeon has a thick, hooked beak built for strength and can crack open hard nuts and seeds. Its diet includes fruits, berries, seeds, and small invertebrates.
To digest these tough foods, it swallows gizzard stones, tiny pebbles that act like a natural grinder inside its stomach, softening the food before digestion.
Another remarkable adaptation is its ability to drink seawater. Its kidneys filter out the excess salt, a vital function for surviving on small islets, where fresh water is hard to find.
Courtship and Breeding
January marks the start of the breeding season. The male courts the female with a charming display—puffing his neck feathers, bowing, and making deep grunting calls that sound surprisingly like a pig’s grunt! They pair for life.
The male selects a nesting site 2 to 10 metres above the ground, while the female builds a simple twig nest to hold a single blue egg.
Parental Care and ‘Pigeon Milk’
Both parents share the duty of raising their chick. They take turns incubating the egg for about 4 weeks so one can guard while the other feeds. When the chick hatches, it is blind, featherless, and helpless. So the first few days, the parents feed it a rich, creamy fluid called ‘pigeon milk’ produced in their throat pouch (the crop). Packed with proteins, fats, and antibodies, it helps the chick grow strong and healthy. As it matures, the parents gradually introduce soft fruits and seeds until it can feed on its own.
In the wild, the Nicobar pigeon lives about 8 to 12 years.
A Living Relative of Dodo
Long ago, across the Indian Ocean, lived three related species: the Nicobar pigeon; dodo, a flightless bird endemic to Mauritius (an island in the Indian Ocean); and Rodrigues solitaire, another flightless bird endemic to Rodrigues (a small Indian Ocean island). All three descended from an ancient pigeon that once lived on tropical islands. The dodo and Rodrigues solitaire were exterminated, thanks mainly to domestic animals (cats and dogs) introduced by the European colonialists. The dodo is one of the most well-known examples of human-induced extinction.
DNA studies reveal that the Nicobar pigeon is the closest living relative of the dodo.
The dodo and solitaire, having lived without predators, lost their need to fly; hence, their wings shrank, and their bodies grew heavier. The Nicobar pigeon, however, retained its wings and flight.
Subspecies of the Nicobar Pigeon
The Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) has two subspecies:
• C. n. nicobarica—found from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands through the Malay Archipelago to the Philippines and Solomon Islands
• C. n. pelewensis—endemic to Palau, a tiny Pacific island
The two look much alike; C. n. pelewensis is a little smaller and has slightly shorter neck feathers.
Conservation Status
Despite its resilience, the Nicobar pigeon faces a fragile future. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List, and is included in CITES Appendix I, granting it the highest level of protection from international trade.
Its main threats include habitat loss (deforestation continues to shrink its feeding areas), hunting, invasive predators, and rising sea levels.
Cultural Significance
To the Nicobarese tribes, this pigeon is a messenger of the sea, believed to carry their soul across islands in their afterlife.
Its iridescent feathers are seen as blessings from the rain spirit and a symbol of peace, prosperity, and renewal. Spotting a Nicobar pigeon at dawn is believed to bring good fortune to the day’s fishing.
Watching rare moments like the Nicobar pigeons gliding gracefully across the island makes travel worthwhile. To stop, to simply watch, to be amazed, and to sense the gentle rhythm of life surrounding you—it reminds me of Tagore’s words: ‘Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.’
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