Endangered bird which is closest living relative to the dodo hatches at Edinburgh Zoo
A RARE chick of the closest living relative to the dodo has hatched at Edinburgh Zoo.
The Nicobar pigeon is the closest living relative to the dodo and is mainly a ground-dwelling bird
The endangered Nicobar pigeon can be spotted in the aviary after its arrival on Wednesday October 25.
The mainly ground-dwelling birds with brightly-coloured feathers are the closest living relatives to the extinct dodo.
Sean Meechan, senior animal keeper, said: "We are really pleased to see that the chick is doing well.
Nicobar pigeons are classified as near-threatened on the IUCN red list
Both parents have been keeping a watchful eye and will continue tending to it until it fledges at around one month old
"Both parents have been keeping a watchful eye and will continue tending to it until it fledges at around one month old.
"We have a while to wait before the chick starts to show off its adult colouration, when it will begin to develop the white tail and dark green iridescent feathers that the species is famous for."
Nicobar pigeons are classified as near-threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list.