Dodos might have been quite intelligent, new research finds
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - 15:40
in Biology & Nature
New research suggests that the dodo, an extinct bird whose name has entered popular culture as a symbol of stupidity, was actually fairly smart. The work finds that the overall size of the dodo's brain in relation to its body was on par with its closest living relatives: pigeons -- birds whose ability to be trained implies a moderate level of intelligence. The researchers also discovered that the dodo likely had an enhanced sense of smell.