Birds · Galliformes
Indian Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Least Concern
The peacock, technically the male Indian peafowl, is famous for its enormous, iridescent tail train used in dramatic courtship displays. Native to South Asia, peafowl have since been introduced as ornamental birds worldwide.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Pavo
Species: cristatus
Related species: Green peafowl, Congo peafowl — genus Pavo & Afropavo
Tail Length
Up to 5 feet — the train, in males.
Weight
8.5–13 lbs for males; females somewhat smaller.
Habitat
Forest edge, farmland, and scrubland.
Description
Iridescent blue-green plumage, a fan-like crest, and — in males — an enormous eye-spotted train.
Diet
Omnivore — seeds, insects, and small reptiles.
Coloration
Iridescent colors come from microscopic feather structures that bend light, not pigment.
Courtship
Males fan and shake their train to attract peahens during elaborate courtship displays.
Flight
Capable of short, powerful bursts of flight, especially to reach high roosting branches.
Social Structure
Small groups led by a dominant male during breeding season; roosts communally at night.
Clutch Size
Typically 4–8 eggs, incubated for about 28 days.
Sexually Mature
Around 2–3 years of age, when the male's train fully develops.
Life Span
15–20 years.
Did You Know?
A peacock's shimmering colors come from feather structure, not pigment.
Did You Know?
The famous "tail" is actually made of elongated upper tail-covert feathers, not the true tail.
Did You Know?
Only male peafowl — peacocks — grow the elaborate train; females, called peahens, are more subdued brown and green.
Types of Peafowl
Indian Peafowl
Pavo cristatus — the classic blue-green peacock
Pavo cristatus — the classic blue-green peacock
Green Peafowl
Pavo muticus — Southeast Asian species, Endangered
Pavo muticus — Southeast Asian species, Endangered
Congo Peafowl
Afropavo congensis — Africa's only peafowl species
Afropavo congensis — Africa's only peafowl species
Peacock in Foreign Languages
Frenchpaon
GermanPfau
Italianpavone
Portuguesepavão
Spanishpavo real
Russianpavlin
Polishpaw
Japanesekujaku
Mandarinkǒngquè
Koreangongjak
Dutchpauw
Swedishpåfågel
Norwegianpåfugl
Hindimor
