Indian Blue Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
CLASS: Aves
ORDER: Galliformes
FAMILY: Phasianidae
SIZE:
Male approximately 4 - 5 feet from head to top of tail;
female is smaller -- weighs approximately 8 lbs.
RANGE:
India and Ceylon
DIET:
Wild - Grain, grasses, insects
Zoo - Grain mixture, some meat
FACTS:
- Often raised as ornamental fowl
- Female is called peahen; female is less colorful (no bright blue and green tail feathers) so she blends in with the surroundings and is able to protect her nest and young.
- Regal train of feathers adorns the male peacock from February to July. Late summer he sheds the long, colorful feathers.
- Peacocks have been kept in captivity for more than 4,000 years.
Male called peacock and known for great beauty; spreads its feathers in great gold, blue and green colored fan to attract females (courtship ritual)
YOUNG:
- Will nest in straw or on ground; lays up to 8 - 10 eggs; young have grayish-brown feathers and follows close to mother; young called peachicks.
- Adolescence at about 1 year of age and color starts to appear. Males grow long trains of feathers at sexual maturity which is three years.
STATUS:
Not threatened; abundant; breeds well in captivity
