Indian Peacock

Indian Peacock commonly known as Indian Peafowl is the National bird of India.

In 1963, the peacock was declared as the 'National Bird of India' because of its involvement in Indian traditions.

Peacock can be found in various parts of India and is one of the most attractive birds and has its own spectators. This species with the zoological name Pavo cristatus falls under the genus Pavo. The classification is as below,

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Galliformes
Family	Phasianidae
Sub Family	Phasianinae
Genus	Pavo
Species	Pavo Cristatus

Physical Characteristics:

The male bird is named as peacock and the female is termed as peahen. The male is known for its train of beautiful iridescent blue-green or green colored plumage with colorful eyespots. It has a crown with metallic blue color. In the head feathers are short and curled. Both males and females have a head crest. Train consists of more than 200 feathers and each feather ends with an eye-spot. Male length is about 100 – 115 cm and with the fully train its length is about 190 – 220 cms. The average male weighs about 5 – 7 kilograms.

The female (peahen) has no lengthy train like male but it has a mixture of green, brown and grey in her plumage.

Female's upper body is brownish while the upper neck is metallic green and feathers in the breast are green in color.

Rest of the peahens under parts are whitish in color. Compared to males, females are smaller. The length of the peahen is about 90 cms and it weighs about 3 – 4 kilograms.

Distribution and Habitat:

Indian Peacock is found across in every parts of India. It is mainly found at an altitude of 1900 – 2100 meters. Indian peacocks are found more in dry forests areas and prefer to live around human habitation and cultivated areas.

In India this species are protected by religious sentiments. In southern India, peacock prefers to live across stream-side forests.

Places found:

Peacocks are found all over the India. Due to its wide existence it is considered as a national bird for India. Some of the sanctuaries like Bharatpur bird sanctuary, Dandlei wildlife sanctuary, Viralimalai wildlife sanctuary have an abundant population of peacocks.

Bharatpur bird sanctuary:

Bharatpur bird sanctuary is one of the major bird sanctuary found in the state of Rajasthan. This national park is also known as Keoladeo national park. This was declared as a sanctuary in 1971. It is one of the major tourist centres and also one of the important places for the ornithologists.

It has a habitat of more than 360 bird species, and 380 flora species. Many birds like Peacock, tawny eagle, comb duck, spotted eagle are found abundantly in this sanctuary. This sanctuary is declared as a World heritage site.

Viralimalai bird sanctuary:

Viralimalai is one of the developing bird sanctuary and it consists of abundant number of peacocks. It is located at around 30kms from Tiruchirapalli in Tamilnadu.

Viralimalai is famous for its Lord Shanmuganathar Temple at Viralamalai hills.

It is one of the famous places in India where peacocks arefound abundant. Because of this, it become a tourist spot. This place is declared as a heritage place and it is safely protected by the state government.

Food habits:

Peacocks are ground-feeders; they feed on insects, plants, and small creatures. Indian Peafowl (Indian Peacock) do most of their search for food in the early morning and came shortly before sunset. They move away to the shade and secure themselves during the hottest portion of the day. They also feed on berries, drupes, wild figs, and some cultivated crops.

Mating behavior:

Mating season for the peafowl is during the rainy season in India. During this season, males can mate up to six different peahens. Males establish their own territories in which females will round in those areas. Peahens will choose their males based on the size, color and the quality of his tail feathers. Males will attract the female by its sound and erects tail feathers in a dazzling display of color.

Their nest is made up of small sticks, leaves, and grass and hidden in the undergrowth. Females lay 5 to 7 brown colored eggs. Peahens will incubate the eggs by sitting on them and after a month period, chicks will come out. The male has no contact with the females until the chicks come out. The incubation period is about 29-30 days. After the chicks come out, female peacocks will take care of their young ones.

Population and Statistics:

In India population of peacock is gradually increasing. During the survey in 1991 taken by WWF India it revealed that only half of the population is left comparing to the time of 1947 period.

Because of this the government has taken major steps to increase the population of peacock. Due to this, a survey in 2005 revealed that their population is increasing by 10% every year.

Threats to Peacocks:

Peacock population has reduced due to the habitat loss, use of more pesticides in fields, poaching. Among these poaching is one of the major causes. Mainly peacocks are hunted for their flesh and their beautiful feathers. Many environmentalists are raising their voices against peacock poaching.

Though trading of felled feathers from peacock is legal in India,

environmentalists fear that it leads to poaching and killing of many birds. Using of pesticides in fields is also the main reason for their decline.

These pesticides will make drastic changes in their body leading to death. Hence the government has ordered the farmers to use natural pesticides instead of chemicals.

Conservation efforts:

Government has taken many steps to conserve the Indian peacocks. The peacock is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Also the Section 9 of the Act prohibits hunting of wild animals and birds mentioned in the Schedule I, II, and III and IV. Under Schedule I of Section 51 Act it prescribes a maximum imprisonment of six years, Rs 28,000 fine or both for hunting animals and birds. In case of Punjab and Haryana where peacock is state national bird, hunting the bird is a non-bailable offence and Section 51 provides for a maximum imprisonment of six years, Rs 28,000 fine or both. Even though government has taken many measures, the enforcement of this law is very poor.

Interesting Facts

•Indian peacocks are the national birds of India. Due to its involvement in Indian tradition it was declared as the national bird.
•The main use of train feathers is to attract the females and get to mate with them.
•A family of peacocks is called a bevy, while group of peacocks is called as party.
•Peacocks' train can change color when it is struck by light at different angles.
•A chick of peacock can walk and eat by its own when it is a day old.