The Diricawl is a plump, fluffy-feathered and flightless bird. It has the ability to disappear and reappear elsewhere as a means of escaping danger. Muggles are aware of the existence of the Diricawl as a dodo (a large, extinct, flightless bird). However, since Muggles are not aware of its ability to vanish at will, they believe that they have hunted the dodo to extinction. The International Confederation of Wizards has not seen fit to reveal that the animal still exists, since it seems to have raised Muggle awareness of the consequences in slaying their fellow creatures indiscriminately.

Behind the scenes

• In the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Gilderoy Lockhart uses the phrase "going the way of the dodo" to describe the impending extinction of the Giant Fire Crab. This does not make sense for a wizard to say, even one as inept as Lockhart, as they would have no reason to consider the Diricawl extinct. However, this may be considered yet another hint that Lockhart is possibly Muggle-born.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them