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PhasianidaeGalliformes

Indian Peafowl

Pavo cristatus

About

The Indian Peafowl is among the most visually spectacular birds on Earth. The male — the peacock — possesses an extraordinary train of over 200 iridescent feathers, each tipped with an eyespot that shimmers in metallic blues, greens, and golds. India's national bird, it has been revered for millennia across Asian cultures.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Wingspan

140–160 cm

Length

100–115 cm (male with train: up to 230 cm)

Weight

4–6 kg

Ecology

Habitat

Deciduous forests, forest edges, cultivated areas near water

Diet

Seeds, insects, fruits, small reptiles, amphibians

Distribution

Indian subcontinent — India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal; feral worldwide