Classification
Order — Galliformes.
Family — Phasianidae.
Subfamily — Phasianinae.
Genus — Pavo.
Species — Pavo cristatus.
Habitat
The Indian peafowl is a resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent and is found in the drier lowland areas of Sri Lanka. In South Asia, it is found mainly below an altitude of 1,800 metres (1.1 mi) and in rare cases seen at about 2,000 metres (1.2 mi). It is found in moist and dry-deciduous forests, but can adapt to live in cultivated regions and around human habitations and is usually found where water is available. In many parts of northern India, they are protected by religious practices and will forage around villages and towns for scraps. Some have suggested that the peacock was introduced into Europe by Alexander the Great, while others say the bird had reached Athens by 450 BCE and may have been introduced even earlier. It has since been introduced in many other parts of the world and has become feral in some areas. Besides its native habitat, the bird has been introduced by humans to the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, South Africa, Portugal, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia, and elsewhere. In isolated cases, the Indian peafowl has been known to be able to adapt to harsher climates, such as those of northern Canada. The species has been spotted as far north as Schomberg, Ontario, thriving in its newly adapted northern climate.
Outward appearance
Body length: 0.86 to 2.12 m (2.82 to 6.96 ft).
Weight: 2.7 to 6 kg (5.95 to 13.22 lb).
Wingspan: 1.4 to 1.6 m (4.59 to 5.25 ft).
Plumage of peacock is iridescent blue and green.
Tail of a peacock, known as a "train", consists not of tail quill feathers, but highly elongated upper tail coverts. These feathers are marked with eyespots, best seen when a peacock fans his tail.
Both sexes of all species have a crest atop the head.
Plumage of peahen is a mixture of dull grey, brown, and green.
The female also displays her plumage to ward off female competition or signal danger to her young.
Character
Indian peafowls(Pavo cristatus)also knownas common peafowland alsoIndian blue peafowl, are a polygamous avian species. These birds stay insmall flocks (harems) of 1 peacock(male) and 3-5peahens (females) and tend to remain closed together during breeding season Peacocks establish their breeding territories in close proximityto one another in a breeding arrangement known as a lek. Visiting peahens wander through several territories, sometimes making repeated visits, before selecting a peacock for mating A peacock usually has 2-3 breeding peahens in its harem.
Feeding
Indian blue peafowl are omnivorous. They consume insects, worms, lizards, frogs, and snakes. Termites are their food of choice. This species name in Sanskirt means “killer of snakes” because they eat young cobras (Ophiophagus Hannah), making them invaluable and often revered. They also feed on tree and flower buds, petals, grain, and grass and bamboo shoots. In order to help with the breakdown of their food, peafowl will ingest pebbles which are stored in their gizzard and help grind up grains. It is also reliant on an abundance of water for survival.
Breeding
Peacocks are polygamous, and the breeding season is spread out but appears to be dependent on the rains. Peafowls usually reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 to 3 years old. Several males may congregate at a lek site and these males are often closely related. Males at lek appear to maintain small territories next to each other and they allow females to visit them and make no attempt to guard harems. Females do not appear to favour specific males. The males display in courtship by raising the upper-tail coverts into an arched fan. The wings are held half open and drooped and it periodically vibrates the long feathers producing a ruffling sound. The cock faces the hen initially and struts and prances around and sometimes turns around to display the tail Males may also freeze over food to invite a female in a form of courtship feeding.Males may display even in the absence of females. When a male is displaying, females do not appear to show any interest and usually continue their foraging.The peak season in southern India is April to May, January to March in Sri Lanka and June in northern India. The nest is a shallow scrape in the ground lined with leaves, sticks and other debris. Nests are sometimes placed on buildings and in earlier times have been recorded using the disused nest platforms of the white-rumped vultures. The clutch consists of 4–8 fawn to buff white eggs which are incubated only by the female. The eggs take about 28 days to hatch. The chicks are nidifugous and follow the mother around after hatching.[Downy young may sometimes climb on their mothers' back and the female may carry them in flight to a safe tree branch An unusual instance of a male incubating a clutch of eggs has been reported.
Diseases
Peafowls tend to be hardy birds. However, they are prone to poultry diseases, such Botulism, Coccidiosis, owl typhoid, erysipelas, fowl cholera, avian tuberculosis, navel ill, crooked toes (young birds), Newcastle disease, eye infections and worms. Regular treatment for worms is recommended. Parasite Control. Proper vitamin and mineral supplementation will build up their resistance and make them less susceptible to these problems.
