Indian peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Description:
 Size:
o 6-7.5 ft (1.8-2.3m) long
o 4.7-5.25 ft (1.4 -1.6m) wingspan
 Weight: 6- 13 pounds (2.7-6 kg)
 Physical Description: Peafowl are best known for their exquisite train of feathers and
bright coloration in the males. They are a large pheasant-like bird with a small head,
short beak, and a relatively long neck. They have a relatively long neck that widens from
the base of the head to the breast.
 Sexual dimorphism:
o Males have bright colorful plumage with a long train of colorful feathers. Their
necks and chest are bright blue, with gold sides and backs. The tail is green, gold,
brown and black, with large eyespots on the tip.
o Females are drab brown, with a much smaller train.
In the Wild
Habitat and Range:
 Range: Domesticated globally, native to southern Asia.
 Habitat: Open forest and woodlands, farmland, domesticated areas.
Diet:
 Omnivorous: Eats seeds, fruits, insects, reptiles and small rodents.
Adaptations:
 Long, strong legs are built for running.
 Both sexes have spurs on their legs that are used in self defense.
 Fast and agile runner despite their long trains – not particularly good in flight.
Lifespan:
 Average lifespan of 20 years. The oldest captive individual recorded was 23 years old.
Ecosystem relationships:
 Predators: Large cats such as civet, tiger, leopard, jackal,
 Interspecies competitors: Other insectivores.
 Role/ Niche: As omnivores, peafowl help keep populations of insects and other small
animals in balance. Also spreads the seeds of fruits in their waste.
Reproduction:
 Breeding season: Spring and summer
 Behavior:
2/9/2017
Indian Peafowl
The Maryland Zoo
Indian peafowl
Pavo cristatus



o The peacock is well known for the spectacular display of the male, where he
raises, fans out, and shakes his train of tail covert feathers. This display is
thought to play a role in female mate choice.
Incubation:28-30 days
Clutch size: 4-6 eggs
Maturation age: Chicks reared for 7-9 weeks.
Activity:
 Diurnal
 Roosts in trees at night
Other “fun facts”:
 National Bird of India and are considered a sacred animal by the Hindu religion.
 Peacocks have short stiff tail feathers that hold up the large train feathers. The train
feathers are called covert feathers, and are not technically considered tail feathers.
Peafowl will often stay in the same general area for life. This makes them highly
adaptable to domestication.
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed on the IUCN Red List as least concern.
 CITES: no special status.
 Reintroduction/ captivity: Captive and feral populations all over the world.
 Conservation efforts: Aside from cultural protection in India, there are currently no
conservation efforts for peafowl due to their prolific and domesticated presence
throughout the world.
At the Zoo

Here at The Zoo, Indian peafowl are exhibited in the Farmyard.
What We Can Do



Be a responsible pet owner – not all animals make good pets for everyone, make sure
that you know how to properly care for an animal before getting it as a pet.
Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy and resources, reduce litter and pollution
Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat
Additional Resources and References:
2/9/2017
Indian Peafowl
The Maryland Zoo
Indian peafowl
Pavo cristatus








Britannica: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/447818/peacock
Animal Diversity Web:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pavo_cristatus/
Cornell University:
http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=83111
iNaturalist: http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1204-Pavo-cristatus
National Zoo: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Birds/Facts/fact-peafowl.cfm
National Geographic: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/peacock/
San Diego Zoo: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/peafowl
Arkive: http://www.arkive.org/indian-peafowl/pavo-cristatus/
2/9/2017
Indian Peafowl
The Maryland Zoo