Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Animal

Dodo

The dodo was an extinct flightless bird endemic to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

The dodo was a flightless bird that lived only on Mauritius and became extinct in the 17th century. It is now a global symbol of human-caused extinction.

What it is

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a large, ground-dwelling relative of pigeons and doves. It stood about 70 centimetres tall and weighed around 12 kilograms, with small wings that made it flightless.

Why it matters

The dodo's extinction by 1681, driven by hunting, habitat loss, and introduced animals like pigs and rats, is a classic case of human impact on island ecosystems. In Canada, it is used in education and conservation discussions as a cautionary example.

Key details

The dodo lived in coastal and forested habitats on Mauritius and ate fallen fruits and seeds. It disappeared after humans arrived, and no confirmed sightings occurred after the late 1600s.

In short

  • The dodo was endemic to Mauritius and flightless.
  • It went extinct by 1681 due to human activity and introduced species.
  • It is a lasting symbol of extinction in natural history.
Canadian angle

The dodo is widely used in Canadian education, museums, and conservation discussions as an example of extinction caused by human activity.

Quick questions

What is a dodo bird?
A dodo bird was an extinct flightless bird that lived only on Mauritius and was related to pigeons and doves.
Why did the dodo go extinct?
It went extinct because of hunting, habitat loss, and introduced animals brought by humans, which affected nests, eggs, and food resources.
When did the dodo go extinct?
The dodo was extinct by 1681, although some sources note uncertainty about the exact last date.

Sources

  1. Natural History Museum — https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-dodo-bird-the-real-facts-about-this-icon-of-extinction.html
    Supports: Flightless bird; Mauritius range; habitat; approximate size; diet inferred from gizzard stone; extinction context.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/dodo-extinct-bird
    Supports: Scientific identity; Mauritius range; human-caused extermination; extinction by 1681.
  3. Discover Wildlife — https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/facts-about-dodos
    Supports: Mauritius range; last confirmed sighting in 1662; extinction estimate around 1690; invasive species impacts.
  4. American Museum of Natural History — https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/biodiversity/dodo-bird
    Supports: Extinction causes including deforestation, hunting, and introduced animals.
  5. PBS — https://www.pbs.org/odyssey/odyssey/20031119_log_transcript.html
    Supports: Diet of fallen fruit and use of hooked beak.