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Indian
Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
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 Appearance
The magnificent Indian peafowl
is so widely kept in captivity and in parks and gardens
outside its native range that it is a familiar bird
in much of the world. The cock is unmistakable, with
his iridescent plumage, wiry crest and glittering
train, adorned with eyespots. The smaller female,
or peahen, has brown and some metallic green plumage
and a small crest. Male: 92 cm - 1.2 m (3 - 4 ft)
without train; 2 - 2.25 m (6 1/2 - 7 1/4 ft) in full
plumage: Female: 86 cm (33 3/4 in) |
Description
Outside the breeding season,
peafowls live in small flocks of 1 male and 3 to 5
hens, but, after breeding, they may split into groups
made up of adult males or females and young. They
feed in the open, early in the morning and at dusk,
and spend much of the rest of the day in thick undergrowth. |
Regions
India, Sri Lanka in forest,
woodland, cultivated land |
Diet
Seeds, grain, groundnuts, shoots,
flowers, berries, insects and small invertebrates
are all eaten by these omnivorous birds, and they
may destroy crops. |
Breeding
In the breeding season, the
male bird displays, fully spreading his erect train
to spectacular effect by raising and spreading the
tail beneath it. With his wings trailing, he prances
and struts in front of the female, periodically shivering
the spread train and presenting his back view. The
female may respond by a faint imitation of his posture.
In the wild, the nest scrape is made in thick undergrowth,
and the female incubates her 4 to 6 eggs for about
28 days. |
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