Have you ever heard the saying, “Dumb as a Dodo bird?” Turns out, they actually may have been much smarter than we've given the credit for. 

For centuries, the large, flightless bird has been portrayed as slow, clumsy and not exactly the sharpest beak in the flock. But new research suggests that reputation was never deserved.

Scientists used advanced CT scans to study the only three fully preserved dodo skulls known to exist. When they compared the birds’ brains with those of pigeons (the dodo’s closest living relatives), they found no evidence that dodos were less intelligent. The portion of the brain associated with cognition and memory was about the size researchers would expect.

So how did dodos get such a bad rap, and eventually help themselves become extinct? They evolved on Mauritius without natural predators, which meant they had little reason to fear humans. Their trusting nature made them easy targets for sailors, while animals introduced to the island created even more threats. The dodos were not stupid. They simply had no experience dealing with the sudden arrival of humans and everything we brought with us.

The bottom line is that the dodo was probably smarter, quicker and more interesting than history gave it credit for. Maybe it is time to retire that old saying.