Kids will love this free printable dodo bird coloring pages resource. Dodo birds went by the scientific name ‘Raphus cucullatus’ and have been extinct since 1681. Dodo birds were native to the island of Mauritius near Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. They were originally pigeons who over the years, had evolved into 3 foot tall, flightless birds, subject to the environmental conditions of the island. When they were on the island, they did not come across any predators and hence were defenseless against the Dutch settlers who came later on the island. Dodo birds weighed around 13 to 23 kilograms and some Portuguese also believed them to be penguins as they were tall, flightless, and had tiny wings. This helpful sheet can be used to help kids with their coloring skills and also learn some facts about dodo birds.
Did you know? Errol Fuller is the author of a book named ‘The Dodo: Extinction in Paradise’, which chronicles the history, archaeology, legend, and the dodo's place in art and literature.
