Mysteries of the Dodo: Unraveling the Sounds of a Lost Bird
Imagine the eerie silence of an island where the dodo, a flightless bird that once thrived, no longer exists. There are no recordings of its sounds, leaving us with an age-old question: what did a dodo sound like?
The dodo is a fascinating yet mysterious creature, known primarily from historical accounts and artistic depictions. According to those accounts, the dodo was a large bird, related to pigeons, known for its unique characteristics but little is known about its vocalizations. Descriptions suggest that it may have made low grunting noises similar to other large birds, but the exact sound remains enigmatic (source: Dodo - Wikipedia).
Another curious reference comes from the 1956 film adaptation of On the Golden Pond where the character Hemingway reminisces about the only Oscar he won, which sparked a discussion about the dodo and its sounds. In the mid-20th century, researchers tried to reconstruct the dodo’s voice, leading to some plausible theories. For example, the 2007 TV series Primeval featured a parasite-infected, psychotic dodo, providing a cinematic representation of what the dodo might have sounded like.
Despite these efforts, no definitive period descriptions of the dodo's sounds exist. Even descriptions of how the dodo moved and acted may not be entirely accurate, as the bird lived in a very specific historical context that is difficult to fully understand (source: Journal of Ornithology, 2016).
Speculating on the Dodo’s Voice
Given the limited historical data, we can make educated guesses about the dodo's vocalizations. The dodo was a giant flightless pigeon, related to the Nicobar Pigeon, known for its deep cooing noises.
The Nicobar Pigeon, the dodo’s closest living relative, produces a deep sound described as a 'wooooo'. It's reasonable to assume that the dodo, being a much larger bird, would have a deeper voice. A plausible sound for the dodo could have been a low, resonant 'doooo-dooooo', similar to the cooing of large pigeons such as the crowned pigeons of New Guinea.
The crowned pigeons of New Guinea are known for their majestic sounds, especially the tubular call of the male. They are described to sound somewhat like an alpenhorn, which could provide a hint towards what the dodo might have sounded like.
Regrettably, the exact sound of the dodo can no longer be answered, as the bird is now extinct. However, we can explore the question further through scientific and historical perspectives. The term 'dodo' itself may have been an imitation of its call, although there are alternative explanations. Accounts from those who saw living dodos do not seem to mention their voices, and the description of a loud squawking bird being held up by one leg may not have referred to a dodo.
Today, with the help of scientific research and historical documentation, we can hypothesize the sounds of the dodo, enriching our understanding of this fascinating extinct bird. Further exploration into the vocalizations of closely related birds, such as the Nicobar Pigeon and crowned pigeons, may provide valuable insights into the possible sounds of the dodo.
References:
Dodo - Wikipedia, 2023. Journal of Ornithology, 2016, 156(2): 375-382.Further Reading:
Primeval, 2007, BBC. On the Golden Pond, 1956, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.