Photo: Jameela P. / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Indian Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) — Gamebirds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 4.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
- Genus Pavo
- Species cristatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.2 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
Males (peacocks) have an iridescent blue neck and breast and a huge green, eyespot-covered train of elongated uppertail-coverts; females (peahens) are much duller brown and grey with a whitish belly, an iridescent green lower neck, and no train.
Juvenile appearance
Chicks of both sexes are cryptic pale yellow-to-tawny with brown mottling, and young males resemble females until they develop the blue neck and long train.
Breeding vs non-breeding
No true seasonal colour change, but males grow the ornamental train for the breeding season and shed it annually (train discarded around January, regrown by the following breeding season).
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Indian Peafowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Indian Peafowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is a member of the Phasianidae family, within the order Galliformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.2 kg, with a wing length of about 44.5 cm and a tail of around 40.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Indian Peafowl?
The Indian Peafowl is a very large bird that weighs around 4.2 kg.
Where does the Indian Peafowl live?
The Indian Peafowl is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Indian Peafowl belong to?
The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Indian Peafowl eat?
The Indian Peafowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Indian Peafowl migrate?
The Indian Peafowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Indian Peafowl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Indian Peafowl make?
1 real field recording of the Indian Peafowl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Indian Peafowl's range?
The Indian Peafowl has a mapped global range of about 2.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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