The Nicobar pigeon is listed as Near Threatened. Habitat loss, hunting for food and trapping for the pet trade are the main threats, and the bird is also hunted for its gizzard stones, which are used in jewellery.
What is the Nicobar Pigeon?
Believed to be the closest living relative of the long-extinct dodo, which was wiped out in the late 17th century, the Nicobar pigeon is found on small islands from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands east through Southeast Asia to the western Pacific, including parts of Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Palau, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
The Nicobar is one of the larger pigeon species, at around 40 cm (16 inches) long.
Its most striking aesthetic feature is the glorious multi-colored, iridescent feathers that make up its plumage.
They breed very well in captivity which is a good thing because wild numbers are thought to be declining.
It’s great to see these fascinating and elusive birds in zoos but conservation programs to protect them in the wild would be preferable.
Why Is the Nicobar Pigeon Near Threatened?
‘Near Threatened’ category on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (opens in new tab) means a species is getting closer to becoming endangered or worse (the ultimate category being extinction!).
The Nicobar pigeon has been listed as Near Threatened for many years.
Despite Great Nicobar Island being part of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (opens in new tab), the bird is not safe.
There are a handful of factors that contribute to the unsure fate of the Nicobar pigeon, mostly human-related:
- The bird is prone to be captured for food.
- It is a prized commodity in the exotic pet trade.
- Hunters seek them out to remove their gizzard stones for use in jewelry.
International trade in Nicobar pigeons is strictly controlled under CITES (Appendix I), but it is naive to think this stops it. Illegally, people will still buy and sell Nicobar pigeons, as pets and for their gizzard stones.
What Is a Gizzard Stone?
Also known as a gastrolith (opens in new tab) or a stomach stone, a gizzard stone is a rock that is held inside a bird’s gastrointestinal tract.
The gizzard sits between the glandular stomach and the intestine and the small stones it contains essentially function as the bird’s “teeth”.
Pigeons need grit because they have no teeth and although they eat some soft foods, the seeds and grasses they eat often have harder outer shells that need to be removed for the bird to receive the nutrients.
The stones, thanks to the actions of the thick muscular wall of the gizzard grind and break down the food so it can pass into the intestine.
These stones are not something that grows organically within the pigeon, but rather are created from small bits of gravel that the pigeon ingests to aid its digestion.
Over time, these gizzard stones become very rounded and smooth, with an incredibly polished appearance thanks to the repeated grinding motions.
Why Do Poachers Want the Gizzard Stone?
Unlike the animal kingdom that Mother Nature has painted and adorned with the most magnificent colors and features, humans turn to fashion to enhance their appearance and fashion isn’t always ethical.
For the majority of people (especially the ones interested enough to be on this website!), the thought of killing a beautiful bird just to be able to extract their gizzard stone for retail benefit is almost unthinkable.
However, due to the roundness and extreme smoothness of the gizzard stones, they have unfortunately caught the eye of certain people who have the idea of making items of jewelry out of them.
The fact is that gizzard stones bear something of a resemblance to things like sought-after sea glass.
They also have a prized smooth and shiny appearance that can only be achieved with hours of mechanical polishing.
Someone will always be looking for ways to cut corners (and costs!)
In the wild, Nicobar pigeons are not particularly difficult birds to catch, and therefore they have become a keen target for people wanting to make gizzard stone jewelry either for themselves or for monetary gain.
Can The Nicobar Pigeon Be Saved?
Though their status is something of a worry, there are several conservation efforts currently in place to try to preserve and protect the future of the Nicobar pigeon.
A number of zoos around the globe manage the bird through the Nicobar Pigeon Species Survival Plan (opens in new tab), a breeding programme run by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, with birds kept at many institutions.
These birds are kept captive as a measure of insurance against potential extinction, safe from the dangers of hunters who might want to kill them simply to make a necklace out of their gizzard stones.
Last updated 31 October 2026 · Types