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Description

The Doduo or Short-tailed Dodo (Dodo bicephala) is a otidiform bird that can be found mostly on grasslands and scrublands. Growing up to 1m tall, these birds are mainly solitary omnivores that prefer plant matter over small animals, crossing big distances by walking with its powerful legs and only flying when in danger.

Males and females have similar sizes, but can be easily distinguished by the pale yellow neck in females and dark neck in males; also the males grow a special tail feather during mating season.

This special tail feather is the feature that makes the bird iconic: during the courtship the male jumps, calling loudly and displaying the long feather bent near the head; from which the legends of a two headed creature came from. The reason of this feather to look like a head is still unknown.

Doduos do not construct nests, laying a single egg close to shrubs and being brood by the female. There is little maternal care, with the chick becoming independent in a few weeks.

The Dodrio or Pink-tailed Dodo (Dodo tricephala) is another (and the biggest) species of the Dodo genus. These gigantic birds can reach 1,5m tall and almost 3m of wingspan, making them a gorgeous sight on savannas and grasslands where it lives.

Dodrios live usually in small groups and are usually seen foraging for small animals and plants during the day. Great runners and kickers, these animals can be formidable foes to any predator that try to chase or fight them, with reported non-fatal incidents with humans.

Just like the doduo, males and females can be distinguished by their neck color, black for males and yellow for females. During the mating season, males grow a pair of long feather in the tail, which are bent forward and brought near the bird’s head. The courting display also counts with long range calls, display of the regular pink feather tails and jumps.

Nests are simple and females sometimes brood near each other, with the chicks being independent in a short period of time.

Both doduos and dodrios can inhabit agricultural lands, becoming potential problems for crops and sometimes this conflict results in the killing of these birds.

Description

The Doduo or Short-tailed Dodo (Dodo bicephala) is a otidiform bird that can be found mostly on grasslands and scrublands. Growing up to 1m tall, these birds are mainly solitary omnivores that prefer plant matter over small animals, crossing big distances by walking with its powerful legs and only flying when in danger.

Males and females have similar sizes, but can be easily distinguished by the pale yellow neck in females and dark neck in males; also the males grow a special tail feather during mating season.

This special tail feather is the feature that makes the bird iconic: during the courtship the male jumps, calling loudly and displaying the long feather bent near the head; from which the legends of a two headed creature came from. The reason of this feather to look like a head is still unknown.

Doduos do not construct nests, laying a single egg close to shrubs and being brood by the female. There is little maternal care, with the chick becoming independent in a few weeks.

The Dodrio or Pink-tailed Dodo (Dodo tricephala) is another (and the biggest) species of the Dodo genus. These gigantic birds can reach 1,5m tall and almost 3m of wingspan, making them a gorgeous sight on savannas and grasslands where it lives.

Dodrios live usually in small groups and are usually seen foraging for small animals and plants during the day. Great runners and kickers, these animals can be formidable foes to any predator that try to chase or fight them, with reported non-fatal incidents with humans.

Just like the doduo, males and females can be distinguished by their neck color, black for males and yellow for females. During the mating season, males grow a pair of long feather in the tail, which are bent forward and brought near the bird’s head. The courting display also counts with long range calls, display of the regular pink feather tails and jumps.

Nests are simple and females sometimes brood near each other, with the chicks being independent in a short period of time.

Both doduos and dodrios can inhabit agricultural lands, becoming potential problems for crops and sometimes this conflict results in the killing of these birds.