Since this the following comments apply. The best evidence for the color of the wings is white.

The plumage was textured like a sort of gosling according to one description, downy but not hairy like a mammal.

As emblematic as the Dodo is (was), it should be kept in mind that it was only one of several bird species (not to mention the other species of unique reptiles and tortoises known to have been living there as well) on Mauritius, perhaps dozens though in all likelyhood we’ll never fully know, of species of other birds that became extinct on that particular island due to overhunting and habitat impacts, including a number of different duck varieties. And that this extinction of bird species was re-enacted on virtually every one of the larger Mascarene Islands of the Indian Ocean, characterized by their uniquely adapted species, as these islands were volcanic in origin (i.e: never connected to one another) and seperated by fairly large distances, and therefore in fairly complete isolation, and each a really unique experiment in natural selection…and so the large land birds on these other islands may or may not have been evolved from doves, though perhaps from ibis, or parrots or who knows what…

ClassicRocker 30- As far as dodo meat is concerned, indeed it wasn’t known to be very tasty and was also a bit tough. More than hunting for food, it was introduced animals that did a great amount of damage to the dodo. One animal in particular, a type of macaque, did spectacular damage due to its appetite for the dodo’s eggs, and the ease with which these eggs could be obtained (walk right up and take them). Pigs that were brought to the island also caused a lot of trouble. Then there were cats and dogs, both of which usually have an impact when introduced to a new habitat.

I’d actually love to do models of just about everything in Mr. Fuller’s book. One of my future ambitions.

Gary the Cat:

The website will be a start, and hopefully will be online in a week or two. It will have more of the dodo, the elephant bird, archeopteryx, some of my dinosaur models (including a brachiosaurus with a trunk), lots of curious stuff.

ClassicRocker 30:

If I recall, the historical descriptions of sailors taking dodos for food reported it didn’t taste good, probably like the hoatzin today, so while there was a lot of meat, not much taste.

But the elephant bird would have been a real meal. It’s drumstick bone is about 24″ long.

Bill

those are truly beautiful recreations.

I hope one day you may consider gathering together a porfolifo or book of these models for all of us-I can never get enough crypto-books!

Regards,

Gary.