PEAFOWL

ORDER

Galliformes

FAMILY

Phasianidae (grouse, turkeys, pheasants)

HABITAT AND RANGE

These birds are native to Asian countries like India, Burma, and Java, and also the Congo. They are not the best flyers so they spend most of the time on the ground. They like to live in dense, hilly jungles near water.

IDENTIFICATION

Males are called peacocks and females are called peahens. Peacocks are incredibly colorful with a large fan of feathers displayed to attract the peahens. These long feathers can be several feet but a shed after each mating season. Females are not nearly as colorful, but both sexes have a crown of colorful erect feathers on their heads.

DIET

They are not picky about what they eat, but often eat things like seeds, grass and weeds, and insects.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

During the mating season the peacock fans its tail and struts around showing himself off. After mating, peahens lay 3-5 eggs in a hole in the ground underneath some brush. The eggs are incubated for about 28 and after hatching the chicks follow their mother around closely for protection. They can live up to 30 years in captivity.

NOTES

They often warn each other when danger is approaching using loud, shrieking cries and honks. Many different colors and breeds have been produced by humans.